Homebrew Battle Frame Species Details

As the last surviving orcs fled the burning village, a man of metal stood amongst the corpses of his foes. His blade vanishing from sight, he turned towards the human survivors of the attack.

"What are you...?" A woman steps forward. As well as the rest of the villagers she had heard stories of Warforged, however the man standing before her was unlike any of the stories she had heard before.

"I am a Guardian Frame. My designation number is "B7-3E9". I am bound to my purpose." He replied, announcing in his programmed knightly tone.

"What is your purpose?" She asked with mild trepidation.

"To protect the innocent."

 

The Battle Frame was an invention of desperation. Designed during the Psionic Cataclysm, the Battle Frame program was initiated using snapshots of an organic mind, a soul copied and transferred to a machine. Developed quietly before the Psionic Cataclysm as a side-project, they soon found purpose when the survivors of the Cataclysm found themselves under a relentless attack. Having being borne into war, these people know almost nothing else. Battle Frames are generally made from a metallic alloy, with their internal functions considered a classified military secret. With their imprinted organic mind-patterns, they are able to achieve the same range of emotions as their donor, with exception to anything changed during the imprinting process. All Frames follow the same purpose, whether they have been riven from their home-plane or are still fighting in that desperate war. A Frame will almost always be an ally to count on, unless their hard-coded rules have been broken or their internal programming has been corrupted.

Having been torn away from their home plane by the detonation of a powerful implosive device capable of creating a dimensional rift, these machines found themselves floating through the infinite nothing between worlds for a brief moment before finding themselves lost on another material plane. With their original mission still in mind, these lost people now find themselves desperate to return home to continue the fight, lost and likely more alone than they've ever felt.

Machine turned Man

The 'Frames' are created in workshops close to the front-line of the battle raging on in their plane, designed from blueprints standardised and used by each workshop. Their internal workings are a closely guarded military secret, and each Frame is designed to detonate should an inactive or damaged Frame be tampered without the correct authorisation code provided. Their external shell is made of a mix between a metallic alloy and flexible polymer, providing adequate protection from the elements as well as minor protection from light attacks.

The structure of each Frame depends on their designation. For instance, Battle Frames are designed with stronger arms and legs, allowing a greater damage potential in the field. As well, Guardian Frames are slightly heavier built, designed to be able to withstand blows that may disable another Frame.

The appearance of a Frame's face changes depending on when it was created. Earlier in the war, for instance, all frames were build with a static face that was incapable of betraying emotion. These would light up when the frame spoke, but performed no other function. During the middle stages of the war, the frames began to be designed with a 'Social Interface Screen', which would allow the Frame to respond with more than just their voice. In the earlier stages of it's implementation, it only allowed for very simple faces or messages to be projected. Later on in the war, the 'SIS' would be replaced with the 'Facial Screen', though only for Frames which held an important role either on the battlefield or on the home-front were granted one such screen. These screens were able to project a face capable of relaying the full range of emotions the imprinted mind was capable of.

Due to their nature, they are unaffected by the usual means of regeneration a humanoid may expect. Resting, healing magic and the Medicine skill do not provide any benefit to a Frame, reliant purely on maintenance or mending magic.

However, due to the nature of their construction, as well as the environment from which these machines originated, they are also immune to any form of Control a creature may attempt to impose over them, whether that be through Fear or Charm, or through a spell. Mind readers are also unable to perform their magic on a Frame and Frames also find themselves resistant to Psychic attacks due to their unique psychology.

Frame Personality

The Frames were designed to fight in a war where their organic counterparts could not. Having lost almost all their original numbers, each life became a precious resource. Thus, the Frame program had been revitalised. With their unique psychology, they were programmed with a singular overriding purpose, as well as a built in subservience to their innate command structure. For each Frame there is no higher calling than fulfilling their duty, to safeguard innocent life and destroy their mortal enemy wherever they may be found.

However, for those who exist after the war, they find themselves struggling to find a new purpose in their existence. Having been classified as a new species, they may find themselves returning to their old roots, searching desperately for a righteous organisation in need, or a town needing protection. They may be found commonly as officers of the law.
There are yet others who have taken to exploring what is yet unknown, attempting to find a new purpose for themselves, in either the physical philosophical or spiritual realm. There are also those who, having earned the freedom of themselves and those around them, enjoy it with glee. These Frames, being more emotionally minded, may also find themselves adopted by humanoid families as guardians.

Each Frame is capable of portraying emotion, either through body language like the early Frames or through their 'Facial Screens' like the later Frames. Being essentially a humanoid in a metallic shell, it is entirely dependent on the imprint used.

A Frame's body shape depends entirely on its role during the war. A Guardian Frame, for example, will generally have a heavy-set masculine frame. The standard Battle Frame, on the other hand, often appears as a gender neutral design. Meanwhile, an example of a feminine frame would be the Seeker Frame, with a slender build to allow for better aerodynamics during flight.

During the war, it was rare for a Frame to modify itself to better suit it's combat situation, with most Frames dependent on either their initial design phase or later modification after a battle. However, as a Frame develops its own personality, modifications may begin to appear. These can range from aesthetic modifications, including but not limited to colouration changes to other visual changes, to more practical modifications ranging from more armour on vulnerable points to an additional weapon welded to their frame.

After the war, it became more common for a Frame to modify itself. These modifications, however, were entirely dependent on their post-war profession. Explorers often eschewed armour for mobility, and those taking up roles to protect their community would often need to surrender any built-in weapons to instead have them replaced with non-lethal means of protection. However, in all cases, these frames would modify their looks. Most would attempt to attain a 'Facial Screen', especially those of older Frames, and they would attempt to colour and reshape themselves with the assistance of someone experienced in shaping metal.

Many Minds made One

During the war on their home plane, a design opportunity was discovered to encourage an exponential growth of combat experience in each Frame. Using their connection to a global encrypted network of communication relays, including a central command core, each Frame had the ability to upload their shared experiences to the Pool of Knowledge, and in turn they were also able to draw upon the experiences of other frames who had provided their experience to The Pool. This pool enabled each Frame to access a wealth of shared knowledge, whether that be combat knowledge or otherwise, and provided some limited ability for each Frame to communicate with each other. This led to a deeper sense of connectivity between each frame, with the unintended side-effect of instilling a familial relationship into many of the Frames, seeing each other as Brothers or Sisters in their struggle against their Psychic foes. However, at the conclusion of the war, this infrastructure was shut down and the encryption keys destroyed. This was a decision made in the interest of protecting both the Frames, as well as their humanoid counterparts. If one was able to infiltrate such a centralised network, each Frame may be compromised. As well as this, the scars of the Psionic Cataclysm ran deep, and an invisible network where Frames were able to communicate with a mere thought dredged up nightmares of the Psychic foes who had only recently been brought to defeat.

Networked Minds

Frames can establish new encrypted links between individuals, forming ad-hoc networks. This is a capability that Frames have developed in the absence of their previous single shared network. The communicators of the Frames were designed in such a way that un-encrypted communication (even receiving) is impossible, a deliberate design choice intended to ensure communications could never be intercepted or faked. To establish a link, two Frames must willingly exchange encryption keys in-person, in a process known as a "handshake" - this involves a literal handshake in order to digitally exchange keys through a short-range NFC interface in the palm of their hand. Once this is done, a Frame is able to communicate with the entire network they've joined, as long as they are in range. Without the powerful transceivers of the global network, communication links are limited to a distance of five miles, and sometimes less depending on conditions (underground, magical interference, etc).

All linked Frames form a single "mesh network". A Frame's communicator automatically relays network messages, so if you are in range of another Frame, you can communicate with them and any Frames that they are in range of, and so on. "Public" networks only allow messages to be communicated between Frames who know each other, similar to the spell Sending, and broadcast messages are not allowed. In nations where many Frames reside, it's not uncommon to find all Frames are members of a single national public network - although a city's network is isolated from others by distance, a Frame travelling to a new city will immediately have access to the network at their destination without needing to share a new key.

"Private" networks run much deeper, allowing Frames to access each other's experiences, and even lets a Frame see through another's eyes, like scrying. A Frame may not be aware that they are being accessed this way. This is due to the original purpose of the communication network. Frames can also broadcast messages to all members of a private network. Due to the level of trust required, these networks often contain a few individuals, or are used as a private link between two Frames only. Messages encrypted for one network can't pass to another, even though a Frame might be a member of both, so messages exchanged on a private network won't be relayed to the public one.

Public Network

• Allows free use of Sending to any Frame you know who can be reached through the network

Private Network

• Intelligence (and/or Wisdom?) checks made while connected to other Frames will use the highest modifier available on the network. (or just give advantage)
• You can see through the eyes and hear through the ears of any other Frame (scrying), however your own senses are completely deactivated while you are doing this, and you are able to be the subject of such scrying.
• Any information you know could potentially be accessed by other Frames on the network, if they should have reason to search for it.

Quirks

Frames often display an odd personality trait or two, given the nature of their psychology. The Frame Quirks table contains example quirks.

Frame Quirks

Frame Names

During the war, most Frames go by their Designation Numbers, having been assigned during the war. Some earned nicknames during their wartime service, often given to them by their Brothers or Sisters.
Should the war be over, they may have chosen new names for themselves. These names can range from expressive titles, to more human names to commemorate a fallen friend who gave their life in the service of all.

Frame Names (Designation Numbers): 12-T4, J4-88V4, 192-XM6

Frame Names (Wartime Nicknames): Talon, Havoc, Ironsides, Farsight, Shield, Ghost, Soothsayer, Weatherman/lady, Revenant, Cyclops, Wolf, Liberator, Insurmountable, Valkyrie, Hammer, Thorns, Angel, Lucky Day

Frame Names (Post-War): Iberatia, Edonea, Elebere, Orena, Aren, Ivon, Alarego, Belereme, Serstreme, Ureme, Bhen, Adre, Yose, Ervora, 

Frame Voices:

While not all Frames come from the same mind imprint there are cases where, especially early on, an entire Frame combat class would be determined by the mind imprint given onto it, in turn giving the Frame the vocal range of the original imprint. The most infamous example would be the Early-War Guardian Frame classification, which was determined to require a more regal and commanding tone to better fit it's role as well as increase friendly morale. This was slowly phased out over time, with later Guardian Frames instead reliant on their programmed nature to provide a boost to local morale rather than their tone of voice.

Battle Frame Traits

Your Frame character has the following traits. A few of the traits give you a choice; consider how your choice reflects the purpose for which your character was built.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2, and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.

Age

A typical Frame's age varies between a few days to a few decades in age, depending on when they had been created as well as the status of the war. The maximum lifespan for a Frame is as of yet unknown, as most wear and tear is due to battlefield scars. You are immune to magical ageing effects.

Alignment

Most Frames believe strongly in their programmed morals, having witnessed firsthand the atrocities against life committed by their foes. Frames tend towards Lawful Good. There are a few who have developed quirks in their programming, leading to a corruption in their moral code and allowing for more flexible ideals.

Size

The standard Battle Frame size is Medium. To set your height and weight randomly, start with rolling a size modifier:

Size modifier = 2d6

Height = 5 feet + 10 inches + your size modifier in inches

Weight in pounds = 270 + (4 × your size modifier)

Please note that other Frame's may have varying heights or builds depending on their role.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Specialised Design

You were created to have remarkable fortitude, represented by the following benefits:

• You have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned, and you have resistance to poison damage.
• You don’t need to eat, drink, or breathe.
• You are immune to disease.
• You don’t need to sleep, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

However, due to your metallic nature and sensitive internal functions, you have the following weaknesses:

• You are vulnerable to Acid damage.
• You are vulnerable to Lightning damage.

Low Power Mode

When you take a long rest, you must spend at least six hours in an inactive, motionless state, rather than sleeping. In this state, you are inert. You are effectively [condition]unconscious[/unconscious].
However, while there is no physical need to take a long rest, you will need to enter Low Power Mode to 'Reboot' your systems and perform a long term memory archive process.

If a Frame is unable to enter [Tooltip Not Found], then after 72 hours they will begin to experience performance degradation akin to exhaustion, however instead of death the Frame will enter an [Tooltip Not Found] state, which will render them effectively unconscious for up to 120 hours.

Integrated Protection

Your body has built-in defensive layers, which can be enhanced with armor:

• You gain a +1 bonus to Armor Class.
• You can don only armor with which you have proficiency. To don armor, you must incorporate it into your body over the course of 1 hour, during which you remain in contact with the armor. To doff armor, you must spend 1 hour removing it. You can rest while donning or doffing armor in this way.
• While you live, your armor can’t be removed from your body against your will.

Specialized Design

You gain one skill proficiency and one tool proficiency of your choice.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Unique Psychology

Due to the unique way the mind has been imprinted into the Frame, as well as the nature of the foe they are fighting, each frame has been imbued with the following through their engineering:

• Resistance to Psychic Damage
• Immunity to being Charmed or Feared, or otherwise controlled against their will.

Assisted Upgrade

A Frame may not take any Feats.

Instead, a Frame must find a way to upgrade itself. This can be performed by another Frame, or someone who has an intimate knowledge of the technology used to create the Frame.

To upgrade, the Frame must be in [Tooltip Not Found] for at least 8 hours and have someone working on said upgrade for that particular length of time.

The standard Frame has the following slots available for upgrade:

• Head - 1
• Eye - 1
• Ears - 1
• Armoured Dermal Layer (Skin) - 1
• Arms - 1
• Torso - 1
• Legs - 1
• Hands - 1
• Feet - 1

Combat Lock

Using your Heads-Up Display (HUD), you are able to track and lock on to a particular target. During combat, you will gain advantage against this target and your target will have disadvantage when attacking you.
However, due to tunnel vision an opponent who is not the target in question attacks you, they will gain advantage.