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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JoeGKushner" data-source="post: 2010499" data-attributes="member: 1129">Metal Gods is a 72 page sourcebook on robots and androids for the Darwin's World setting. Broken up into five chapters, the book gives GMs and players the tools needed to introduce these entities.The first section, Introduction, is a lengthy look at the creation of robots from humble  machines to androids capable of replacing humanity. Most of the history is in vague general terms as far as an official timeline and focuses almost exclusively on North America and its consumerism and sex demand for new and better toys. In some ways, very believable. Those looking to play Androids or use them as fleshed out NPCs have chapter two, Androids. It includes standard racial traits and new skills and feats for your Androids. One useful tool is the recommended Feat Trees listed by android model type. If you're a laborer android, you might take Alertness, Expertise or Iron Will but if you're a Soldier, you'll take Built-In Weapon or Heavy-Duty Resistant Coating. This gives the GM a quick way to build androids without doing a lot of prep work.The new feats are focused on the android and augmenting it. Enchaned Audio Receptors gives a +8 competence bonus to Listen checks and a +2 to sense motive while Bio-Sense provides exact location of living creatures within 60'. Useful but very powerful. GMs trying to keep a scale of 'even' power in this setting will have to playtest and determine on an individual basis what works and what doesn't. Not all of the material is android based however. Improved Hit Dice, another powerful feat, increases the hit dice by one step so 1d6 becomes 1d8. Another one, Marauder allows the user to inspire Feat. Another way to customize your characters is through the prestige classes. The following choices are offered: Assassin Android, Android Mastermind, Child (Of Metal Gods), and Foundationist Android. Most of the titles are self explanatory but the Child of Metal Gods is a human dissatisfied with his lot in life who worships the robots and have had things done to them by the robots like sterilization. Interesting stuff that fits the Darwin's World setting to a tee. Chapter Three, Robotic Life provides a lot of groundwork for different levels of  robot and android brains and what they can do. Robotic programs are listed with full information and qualities, like berserk and damage reduction, are listed. This information is similar to how the Monster Manual is set up in that the root mechanics are provided before the monsters themselves. Many standard robots and androids, ranging from laborer androids to War Droids are provided.  Those wishing to throw cyborg hordes at their players can use the cyborg template to augment anything from a human to a bear. Robot Items, in Chapter Four, introduces several new items, basically magic items for a sci-fi setting, to the Darwin's World mileu. Need an ID card or a military research access card? How about a pain collar? All information is listed with typical cost and description so the GM can now use stun grenades even as he arms the players with EMP Rifles.Now how do you use all of this information? The Metal Gods, Chapter Five, provides some groundwork on what robots and androids are doing in the setting as well as some adventure seeds and one semi-fleshed out adventure. This allows the reader to pick up the material and run it within a night or two of his initial purchase.Art and layout are fair. Art is a tad on the light side with many items and robots not illustrated. Some material is reprinted from the core book. Game mechanics seem sound in stat blocks, but playtesting on the android race and the numerous feats will be necessary to fully integrate the book. Interior covers are not used. The book is 72 pages at $14.95 which is about or better than industry standard for d20 books.If you're looking to add robots to you're Darwin's World setting, this is a good purchase for you. If you're looking for more general robots than those found in Factory, then these may be too specific for your needs.</blockquote>

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