RPG Systems for robotic characters

[Thanee]

Mekton only really covers vehicle-type robots (manned or not), though, not something like the various Terminators, for example.

Bye
Thanee

 

[El Mahdi]

It's not in print anymore (but is available as pdf's), but Alternity had pretty good rules and supplements for robots, cybernetics and AI's. In fact, the Star*Drive Campaign setting for Alternity, actually encouraged cybernetic and robotic characters. One of the core races, the Mechalus, were a race of bilological/cybernetic hybrids.

 

[pawsplay]

BESM (any version) would work. Also, you would be stuck with the Palladium system, but Heroes Unlimited has plenty of options.

 

[tecnowraith]

A lot of other people say I should use superhero rpgs for this. I forgot to mention that within these campaigns I am wanting to use magic, psionics and the supernatural/occult along with the all robotic worlds. So with that in mind almost all who have my past posts would know my dislikes of certain magic systems.

I have thought about using HERO but uncertain about the combat rules being too complex for me. BESM attribute system i dislike cause they combine advantages with the attributes which to me is stupid IMHO. I dislike step-dice systems and Alternity and SW is like that.

Not sure if White Wolf's Trinity or even Aberrant has rules for robots.

 

[Angellis_ater]

I would say True20, perhaps with the Mechagenesis setting (more transformers really, but still robotic). True20 by itself really works well enough if the Narrator only wants to design the "backgrounds" (ie types of robots and their exact mechanics). I mean, I could probably even write a short article on Robots in True20 one of these days...

Hmmm - that is actually a good idea!

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

If you don't mind buying a core rulebook plus a player's guide, Shadowrun Fourth Edition has rules for Artificial Intelligence characters that can be downloaded into a variety of robot bodies. Obviously you wouldn't be using a lot of the material... but it's a good game on its own merits, with a simple to use core mechanic.

And I'd feel remiss if I didn't point out that the HARP Sci-Fi playtest Beta PDF has rules for both computer-bound AIs and robot characters, which will be printed in the Sci-Fi Extreme supplement when the game launches.

 

[Tewligan]

How about reskinning D&D 4e? Honestly, I'm not familiar with this incarnation of the rules, but it sounds like the "flashier" powers and effects that characters have access to this time around could be easily reimagined as robotic upgrades, along with the magic items and levelling up. You'd have to pretty much write all new fluff around the mechanics, but it seems like the system might be workable for that.

 

[Michael Silverbane]

A lot of other people say I should use superhero rpgs for this. I forgot to mention that within these campaigns I am wanting to use magic, psionics and the supernatural/occult along with the all robotic worlds.

I would suggest Mutants and Masterminds. Its got the familiarity of d20, and the flexibility of a superhero game, so it can easily handle your various schticks. Plus, its all in one book (though I also heartily recommend the Ultimate Power supplement).

 

[Thanee]

A lot of other people say I should use superhero rpgs for this. I forgot to mention that within these campaigns I am wanting to use magic, psionics and the supernatural/occult along with the all robotic worlds.

Superheroic RPGs are usually quite capable of doing this.
Generic systems like HERO even moreso.

So with that in mind almost all who have my past posts would know my dislikes of certain magic systems.

Well, I don't know what magic systems you like/dislike.

I have thought about using HERO but uncertain about the combat rules being too complex for me.

The most complex part of HERO is character generation. Combat is actually fairly simple and straightforward.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Krensky]

Mekton only really covers vehicle-type robots (manned or not), though, not something like the various Terminators, for example.

Bye
Thanee

MTS (Mekton Technical System, ie Meton Z+) covers anything mecha, in the Japanese sense of mechanical design. Guns, vehicles, buildings, power armor, un-powered armor, robots. With some proper descriptions it does animals too. It was used in the Bubblegum Crisis RPG to make the stats for all of the boomers and for the failed AD Police combat cyborg, for instance, and they were potentially playable.