A robot is a mechanical construct that’s created to do a specific job; it has little to no independent thought. An android takes this idea to the next level: It may be a mechanical construct, but it can think, learn, and adapt.

Robots refer to systems ranging from an autonomous mobile unit with manipulation capability to a simple arm controlled by an operator. They can be used for a variety of tasks, including assembly of mechanical items, remote repairs, medical operations, and structure maintenance.

Robots also vary in their level of autonomy. Some robots act independently, performing tasks with little to no supervision. This is not the same as intelligence. Such an autonomous robot still only performs an assigned set of tasks. Although the robot may have sensors and be capable of altering its activities to deal with variations in its environment, it does not independently choose to alter its basic function. On the more basic side, a manipulator arm may be directly controlled by an operator. This robot only does what the operator commands via user interface, such as a joystick. Such systems are known as teleoperated systems.

Though the concept of robots is old (some suggest that the ancient Greeks experimented with mechanical movable figures), the creation of “automations” or “automatons” (as they were termed before the movie R. U.R. introduced the world to “robot”) gained popularity in the late 1700s. Generally little more than elaborate puppets, the fuse truly working and commercially viable robots didn’t become available until the 1960s. The technology community is still working on artificial intelligence systems and mimicking humanoids movements more closely.

Nonetheless, it’s possible that there are rare android individuals, mechanical beings that have been given independent thought through magic, super-science, or supernatural means {such as being animated by ghosts).

Typical Android

Reflexes 3D: brawling 3D+2, dodge 4D
Coordination 3D: piloting 4D, throwing 4D
Physique 4D: lifting 6D, running 5D, stamina 6D
Knowledge 3D: scholar 4D, tech 5D
Perception 3D: investigation 4D+2, repair 5D+2, search 5D
Presence 2D
Strength Damage: 2D
Move: 10
Fate Points: 0
Body Points: 22
Character Points: 3
Wound levels: 3

Disadvantages: Achilles’ Heel: Metabolic Difference (R3), requires an energy source; Hindrance: Lack Social Graces (R2), +6 to streetwise difficulties; Hindrance: Android Appearance (R5), + 5 to command, con, and persuasion difficulties; Quirk (R3), cannot lie

Advantages: none

Special Abilities: Atmospheric Tolerance (R1), airless environments with Additional Effect (R3), need not breach; Immunity (R5), +5D to Strength or stamina checks against illness or poison; Iron Will (R4), +4D to all willpower rolls and +6 to standard interaction difficulties

Androids as Player Characters

Depending on the setting (Western or Victorian steampunk, super-hero, and post-apocalyptic being the most common), Game Masters may allow players to choose androids as characters. The character package presented here is one suggestion of the minimum combination of Disadvantages, Advantages, and Special Abilities needed to represent an android character. Gamemasters may impose other restrictions on or provide other benefits to android characters, to better represent them in their settings. Nonetheless, being an android can serve as a simple excuse to gain many Special Abilities. (Realize, though, that androids may nor take any mental- or psionic-related Special Abilities, such as Fear.)

A few notes about androids: By default, they don’t look human and they keep the same appearance for their entire existence, unless they makes changes to it. To ensure that components last more than 100 years, they need to get a full systems check done about once per year. Should the android be separated from the creator (for example, because the android ran away), this could pose a challenge as the android figures out how to get his annual maintenance done.

The repair skill is used by and for androids and robots in the same way as the medicine skill is used by and for organic beings.

To give this archetype to a character, the player pays the cost in points or skill dice and then creates the character as normal (though, in this case, with fewer starting dice). Disadvantages gained by taking the android package do not count toward the maximum allowed. To elimininate a Disadvantage or Special Ability that comes in the base package, the player must give his character the opposite Special Ability or Disadvantage.

Total creation point cost: 3 points

Total defined limit cost: 3 skill dice

Disadvantages: Achilles’ Heel: Metabolic Difference (R3), requires an energy source; Hindrance: Lack Social Graces (R2), +6 to streetwise difficulties; Hindrance: AndroidAppearance (R5), +5 to command, con, and persuasion difficulties; Quirk (R3), cannot lie

Advantages: none

Special Abilities: Atmospheric Tolerance (R1, total cost 5), airless environments with Additional Effect (R3), need not breath; Immunity (R5, cost 5), +5D to Strength or stamina checks against illness or poison; Iron Will (R4, cost 8), +4D to all willpower rolls and +6 to standard interaction difficulties