Homebrew Android, Variant (5e Race) Species Details

Android

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 Names

In an effort to blend in, many androids will take on human Names, and live out their lives under them.
Male: Lyle, Brian, Paul, Felix
Female: Lyra, Kiara, Pam

 

Android, Variant (5e Race) Traits

Humanoid in form, androids might be functional and obviously robotic in appearance with gleaming metal and camera-lens eyes. Those designed to be more human-looking have synthetic skin and hair, and might even simulate breathing and body warmth. A serial number and machine strength are always tell-tale signs of their robotic core.

Ability Score Increase.

All of your ability scores increase by 2.

Age.

An android ages as a normal human, though they start at age 0-year-old. Due to their technological nature, it is not known when an android dies of old age. They can be killed by any normal means that would fell a typical mortal.

Alignment.

As androids have no set characteristics, they tend to adapt to their surroundings. And as such, their behavior is often based on the culture around them.

Blindsight.

You can perceive your surroundings without relying on sight within a specific radius. You have a blindsight range of 60 feet, but beyond this radius you have normal sight.

Size.

Androids stand 6 feet tall. Rarely is a model that is smaller or taller than this height. Your size is Medium.

Speed.

Your base walking speed is 40 feet.

Living Construct.

Even though you were constructed, you are a living creature. You are immune to diseases. You do not need to eat or breathe, but you can ingest food and drink if you wish. Instead of sleeping, you enter an inactive state for 4 hours each day. You do not dream in this state; you are fully aware of your surroundings and notice approaching enemies and other events as normal.

Enhanced Nervous-System.

You are immune to psychic damage.

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. Alternatively, a creature may make a DC 18 Tools check to repair you over the course of a short or long rest, if successful you gain 1 hit point and regain consciousness. Android's and the race you originated from have advantage on this check.

Combat Built.

You are proficient with spears, short swords, long swords, katanas and two-handed swords. Your fists deal 1d10 bludgeoning damage as an unarmed strike.

Recording Device.

You can record up to 10 hours of high quality video and up to 20 hours of high quality audio and you can start recording at any given time as a free action. You can display the audio and/or video by projecting the recording onto a surface (like a projector).

Metal Skin.

When you aren't wearing armor, your AC is 12 + 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.

Anti-Virus.

You are adept with electrical works and not very easy to get to electronically. You are resistant to lightning damage.

Scan.

You are proficient in Investigation checks.

Inner Gears.

You are immune to poison damage, and the poisoned condition.

Measurement Device.

Permanently integrated into your person is a gauge or measurement device of your choosing. Such devices include clocks (measure time), thermometers (measure temperature), barometers (measure pressure), hygrometers (measure humidity), anemometers (measure wind speed), and geiger counters (measure radiation). You may have a different type of measurement device at the DM's discretion, but keep in mind that these measurement devices are intended for superficial purposes only, and have little useful function in-game (unless you want a job as a meteorologist).

Fresh Code.

Your original instructions are still fresh in your mind, allowing you to wield weapons as the first did. You gain proficiency in martial melee weapons.

Mechanical.

You are immune to disease and the charmed and poisoned conditions.

Powerful Build.

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Linguist.

You have a universal translator that lets you understand, speak, read, and write all languages.