[SWSE] Using Droid rules for Cybernetics

[LostSoul]

Hey All;

Looking over my new book, and wanted to stat up an old d6 guy I played back in the early '90s - a cyborged pirate - I see that there are no rules on creating cybernetics!

Or are there?

Could you simply use the Droid Modifications Table for upgrading Cybernetics? (Once the cybernetics are there.)

My guy had a cybernetic left arm. When I started playing it didn't do anything. Then I made some money and started adding some attachments:

• A hold-out blaster that was hidden in the arm
• A grappling hook that shot out
• A small compartment shielded against sensors

Awesome. How would I do that in Saga?

First, we'll determine the size. An arm sounds like Tiny - I think that's about the size of a cat, so sounds good. That makes the cost factor x5.

The hold-out blaster is a Weapon: DC 15 Mechanics check, representing 10 minutes of work. I'd use that -5 penalty since cybernetics aren't combat droids.

How to hide it? It doesn't look like any other systems on droids are hidden, but if we look under the Search action in the Perception skill, I think a DC 15 Perception check needed to hide this object makes sense. It sounds close enough to Internal Storage, so we'll go with that. That's an Accessory, so another DC 15 Mechanics check.

Since it is Concealed, it takes a Move Action to draw.

The gappling hook is an Accessory: DC 15 Mechanics check. It sounds very similar to the Spring-Loaded Mechanism. Make a ranged attack to hit a square against Reflex Defense 10. The grappling hook will then allow you to make a Climb check to get up there! Sweet. (The grappling hook shoots out liquid cable and has a magnetic hook. Enough liquid for 10 squares, etc.)

The only problem is that I can only shoot this thing about 8 metres, or 4 squares. I was thinking more like 20 metres, or 10 squares. Eh, there are no rules covering this, so let's just leave it for now.

If I wanted to make attacks with this grappling hook - tie up Impies with it - then I would add a Weapon: DC 15 check, -5 penalty for not being a combat droid. The weapon would be a Net and follow all the rules for a Net.

The hidden compartment is another Accessory: DC 15 Mechanics check. Since my arm is Tiny, it doesn't fit on the chart! But extrapolating the chart down one more step isn't too hard. Let's divide the Small weight by 10 to get .5 kg - about a pound. Perfect for data discs, a credit cylinder, or an extra ammo clip.

Once again, it's hidden, so let's add the hidden aspect on as another Accessory. And it's "shielded against sensors" - that sounds like another Accessory. Along the lines of Improved Sensor Package, it will not give a +2 bonus to Perception checks. No, it will give a -2 penalty to Perception checks from scanners and sensors.

Let's sum all that up:

• Hold-Out Blaster: DC 15 Mechanics check, -5 penalty. Costs 1500 credits. Needs a DC 15 Perception check to spot: DC 15 Mechanics cheeck. Costs 250 credits.
• Grappling Hook: DC 15 Mechanics check. Costs 800 credits.
• Hidden Compartment: DC 15 Mechanics check. Costs 250 credits. -2 Penalty to Perception checks when using sensors: DC 15 Mechanics check. Costs 1000 credits.

Awesome.

There are a few other ways of doing some of the stuff I've done here - allowing the Mechanics check to determine the DC of Perception checks, for one - but I think how I've done it stays pretty close to the spirit of the rules.

 

[LostSoul]

Since my pirate had also lost his eye, I was planning on giving him a cybernetic one.

Let's see. Size Fine, Cost Factor x20.

Add an Accessory: Improved Sensor Package. DC 15 Mechanics check. Gives me a +2 bonus to Perception checks and low-light vision. Cost 4000 credits.

Adding Darkvision would cost 3000 credits.

edit: Oh yeah, add in the cool 2 grand you need to spend in order to get the eye in the first place. Or 1500 if you can do it yourself.

 

[arscott]

I don't have my book with me, but my understanding of the rules is that size factor is in regards to the size of the droid, not the size of the component. So you should be using the cost factor for medium size. Or perhaps a category or two smaller, to account for the fact that the stuff must be miniaturized to fit inside a working arm. But you shouldn't need to pay the x20 cost to miniaturize an eye so it fits inside a human head.

 

[LostSoul]

See, I was thinking the eye is the droid.

Plus, it is a sweet bonus, so I think the cost is reasonable.

 

[jonrog1]

That's a nice bit of rules tweaking, right there. Applause.

 

[nothing to see here]

One solution

I had a similar issue to LostSouls

One of the hidden gems of SWSE is that there is, in fact, more compatible to other d20 books than may first seem.

When I was trying to create/convert some cybernetic characters of my own I, just out of curiosity, broke my 'd20 Future' rule book that had been gaterhing dust on my shelf (base d20 modern rules were a little clunky in my book) and was delighted to see that with, only minimal conversions required, most of the supplamental info (including cybernetics) could easily be adapted to Saga Edition.

No, it's not a perfect fit, but until Wizards churns out some Saga Sourcebooks, I find the mucn-improved Saga rules system has in fact, also breathed life into a few supplements I own that would not have seen the light of day otherwise.