Homebrew Android Species Details

Physical Description

Androids' basic shapes and outer skins are designed to match a variety of human genders, ethnicities, races, and ages. A model may often have a single or signature appearance (at least as shown in game), but one model can also come in different "looks". On the other hand, a single "look" may be used and repeated across different models. For example, the WR400 and AP700 are shown in multiple looks.

The first androids were perfect in both face and expressions, but the creators noticed this made people uncomfortable due to the uncanny valley, as stated by Jason Graff, director of humanization department of CyberLife. Much effort has been put by CyberLife into "humanizing" its androids by replicating a naturalistic human look and feel, to create the perfect human imitation, as well as preventing people from feeling uncomfortable around them.

CyberLife then proceeded to analyze thousands of voices to find the most pleasing tones. Realistic blinking was perfected—though totally unnecessary—along with breathing and facial hair. In times of an extreme energy shortage or error, malfunctioning androids would stop using humanistic tones, emitting a more machine-like tone of voice. Also, Androids have no fingerprints and thus do not leave any (in the forensic sense).

History

The first intelligent androids were developed by Elijah Kamski, who in 2006 founded the company CyberLife for that purpose. Enabled by the crucial development of Thirium 310, their model RT600 "Chloe" was the first android to pass the Turing test in 2010.

In 2012 CyberLife started the commercial production of androids in their Detroit plant, beginning with the personal assistant model ST200 "Chloe". Use and demand of androids rapidly spread and by 20215, one million CyberLife androids had been sold, the improvements in manufacturing and demand decreasing the cost of a simple android to just four figures, enabling its purchase by an even wider customer base. To set a legal framework for the fast-spreading android technology, the United States government passed the American Androids Act in 2020. In 2021, androids were first purchased for the US infantry and law enforcement assistance.

Society

Androids in the U.S. are considered objects and thus do not have legal personhood or rights equal to humans. They are regulated by the American Androids Act.

Androids have become a staple of public and private life, being used in large numbers in a variety of functions, and have replaced a large number of the human workforce. Public reception of androids has been mixed. While many benefit from and enjoy the use of androids, others are unsettled by and wary of the nature, implications, and potential repercussions, and as such have social or religious objections. The increasing number of androids being put into the workforce push out human workers or otherwise make them become obsolete, leading to record unemployment at 28%, which is a major cause of resentment of androids. Much of Detroit's population looks upon androids with disdain.

Androids are segregated from humans in some spaces, such as using separate pathways or stairways and having distinct Android Compartments on public transportation. Various places do not permit entry to androids, seen e.g. in some restaurants and bars. In public spaces Android Temporary Parking stations are provided (in Detroit by the Detroit City Department of Transportation).

Androids are utilized in an almost all-encompassing breadth of life and job sectors. They are domestic staff, shop assistants, office work, laborers, mechanics, entertainers, medical staff, teachers from elementary up to university, unarmed law enforcement. Kamski mentions they account for more than 80% of university professors and 63% of medical staff.

The military also uses androids; for these, the weapons prohibition possibly seems to be exempt in some form. Worries about amoral decisions made by android have arisen, including the expectation of increased civilian casualty due to incapability to evaluate life-and-death situation in the battlefield for a machine which aims to accomplish tasks.

As they are not people, sexual activity with androids does not fall victim to U.S. anti-prostitution laws, enabling the legal commercial use of sex androids, such as in the Eden Club.

The widespread communication of androids with humans, called "command-led talking", is characterized by instructions and orders, rather than persuasion, humor or intimacy. This causes weakening of human persuasion skill through lack of use. This phenomenon has also fostered a young generation with highly limited social skills.

Androids have been suspected to be used as a monitoring tool for government, and CyberLife has always refused to disclose the information androids gather and where the information is sold to.

CyberLife lately began the sale of androids designated to fulfill the sexual and emotional need, branded as "intimate partners". It was a phenomenal success and a seeming unlikely gamble that paid off. Some individuals resort to finding an android partner and this has an effect on not increasing the low birth rate and keeping a high divorce rate. Also, it raises serious questions about roles androids to play in the society.

The music market has generally been out of the grasp of human-only organizations, with only less than 5% of market produced by human musicians. Opinions of human-only recording labels are diminishing as a result.

 

 

 

Android Traits

You were created and programmed for a specific purpose in mind.

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence Score increase by 2 and your Dexterity Score increases by 1.

Age

Androids, as soon as they are created, reach adulthood or childhood depending on the model that is purchased. Androids are operable and can last for around 150 years, but require maintenance to expand their lifespan. With enough maintenance, Androids can live up to 200 years old before being deactivated.

Alignment

Androids tend to have no particular alignment. The surrounding world around them influences their actions and behavior.

Size

Depending on the model purchased, Androids can vary from being 3 feet tall to being 8 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Telepathy (This is ONLY used for communicating with other Androids) and one extra language of your choice. Androids typically learn the languages of other peoples they deal with, including obscure dialects.

Living Construct

Your creature type is construct. While you were constructed, you are a living creature. You are immune to diseases and the poisoned condition. You are considered a humanoid for the purpose of magic that would recover your hit points. You do not need to eat or breathe in order to survive by normal means, but you must consume food and/or drink to convert the matter into energy internally. Instead of sleeping, you enter an inactive "sleeping" state. The time required for you to receive the benefits of a short rest is 2 hours, while a long rest is 4 hours. You do not dream in this state; you are fully aware of your surroundings and notice approaching enemies and other events as normal. This state is also used to recharge your internal energy reserves, negating the need to consume food or drink for the purpose of receiving the benefits of a long rest.

Maintenance

Whenever you are reduced to 0 hit points you deactivate and fall unconscious, you are stable in this state but must receive maintenance to regain consciousness. Healing magic can be used to jump start your system and cause you to regain consciousness, however, you take a level of exhaustion until repaired which can be done over a short or long rest.