Homebrew Android Species Details

What separates androids from golems and other mindless constructs is that androids are living beings and as such possess souls. Similarly, androids don’t live forever, though, barring violence or tragedy, their bodies never deteriorate. Rather, an android’s cybernetic mind eventually shuts down and self-restarts after about a century or more, leaving its body vacant for several weeks as the old soul departs for its final reward in the Great Beyond and a fresh, new soul finds its way into the shell.

Physical Description

Androids are superficially identical to humans in many ways, and to the uninformed, it can be difficult to differentiate the two. In the right light, though, androids’ alien nature is revealed by the metallic sheen in their eyes and the biological, tattoo-like circuitry that riddles their skin. Their bodies are completely artificial though, made of materials that mimic the flexibility, shape, and density of human flesh and bone. Their organs mirror those of humans so well that only by examining the materials and makeup of these systems—which use sheeny oils and polymer alloys rather than blood and marrow—could one guess that their physiology is alien. Androids are roughly the same size as humans. On average, they are 6 feet tall and weigh 200 pounds.

History

Shamans speak of great forges where androids are “born” from metal wombs and are cut from electrified umbilical cords. Even androids can’t refute or verify such stories since most who emerge from ruins do so naked and without any memories beyond their initial egress into the wide, unfamiliar world. Their complex design is unlike that of any race known, leading many to suspect that they originated from a distant star system or even another galaxy. These forges have long stopped working, making the androids a limited race.

It is speculated these androids are indeed alien technology, made to perhaps prolong life for those without a body. Most probable is the theory of extraterrestrial implants where the aliens build and leave a self-sufficient forge or factory on a planet. These forges then pump out, manufacture and maintain androids. These particular androids are desired and mimicked by human technology. However human technology is vastly inferior to these as they have no way to wire a soul like these androids were built to house. Ever since their discovery, humans have often sought after these rare models to help ensure their life after death in an ageless body. However, with so many imitations produced, people are hardpressed to differentiate androids now, which lets androids have some peace in their lives.

Society

Androids have no society. They try to blend in with the other humanoid races and become one with the community that they end up in. In human society, they are often viewed as commodities if their true nature is known. Otherwise, they can live free lives like humans and hold jobs and such. However, they rarely take families and often live very fast, exhilarating lives, as though thirsting for vivacity. They are sometimes known to take power in elected offices due to their programmed intellect.

Android Traits

Your Android character has the following racial traits.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Ability Score Increase

When you determine your ability scores, increase one of those scores by 2 and increase a different one by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. These increases can’t raise a score above 20. You follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. If you are replacing your race with a lineage, replace any Ability Score Increases you previously had with these.

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 Player’s Handbook offers a list of widespread languages to choose from. The DM is free to add or remove languages from that list for a particular campaign. If you are replacing your race with a lineage, you retain any languages you had and gain no new languages.

Creature Type

You are a Construct.

Size

You are Large, Medium, or Small. You choose the size when you select this race.

Darkvision

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.

Nanite Surge

Androids possess nanites within their body that can be used to repair any damage they sustain. As a bonus action, you may set these nanites to work and regain hit points equal to 1d6 + your proficiency bonus. This increases to 1d8 at 5th level, 1d10 at 11th level, and 1d12 at 17th level. Once you use this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Mechanical Nature

You have resistance to poison damage and immunity to disease, and you have advantage on saving throws against being paralyzed or poisoned. You don’t need to eat, drink, or breathe.

Sentry's Rest

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 appear inert, but it doesn’t render you unconscious, and you can see and hear as normal.

True Life

If the mending spell is cast on you, you can expend a Hit Die, roll it, and regain a number of hit points equal to the roll plus your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 hit point).

In addition, you benefit from healing spells that normally have no effect on Constructs.

Specialized Design

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