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Reference Book: Star Wars Saga Edition Core Rulebook

A Droid is a kind of intelligent robot, a mechanical automaton electronically programmed to act, think, and behave in a certain way.

Droids facilitate various tasks that organic beings find tedious, difficult, or hazardous. They are typically fashioned in the likeness of their creators or in a utilitarian design that stresses function. Their usefulness makes them a common sight on nearly every inhabited world in the galaxy. They provide assistance, advice, and sometimes even friendship to trillions of sentient beings on a daily basis.

A Droid's Life[]

Droids are usually property, bought and sold like any other piece of equipment. Although some Droid owners come to think of their Droids as friends, the fact remains that Droids are programmed to serve whoever is designated as their master. To the vast majority of Droids, the concept of Droid independence is unthinkable. Without someone to command them, what would they do?

Even so, ownership and control are two very different things. Droids must do what they are commanded to do to the best of their ability, but their programming dictates how they accomplish their orders. Ordered to find a replacement part for an X-wing, a Droid might commence a systematic search of the repair bay, then the docking facility, then the neighborhood, then the countryside, and so on- all while thinking its actions are perfectly logical. Droids often need very specific instructions to do what their masters command, in a manner meeting their master's expectations.

Occasionally, events conspire to lead a Droid to independence. These so-called "self-owned" Droids are few, but not as rare as many believe. One might hear stories of Droids that escape their masters after years of abuse, or of an entire line of Droids that manifest violent personalities as the result of a programming glitch. However, independent Droids are rarely haywire, rampaging killers. Independent Droids often enter into partnerships organic beings, particularly on worlds where a lone Droid without a master draws a lot of unwanted attention. Independent Droids sometimes even seek each other out, hoping to find strength and security in numbers. Some independent Droids are thrust into the unlikely role of hero, helping to defend the galaxy from the depredations of evil as personified by the likes of the Empire and the Yuuzhan Vong.

Droid Heroes[]

Main Article: Droid Heroes

If you want to play a Droid as a hero, you can either play an existing Droid from this section or create your own unique Droid hero. Droid heroes are assumed either to be "self-owned" or to be owned by another player character (with the approval of both the Gamemaster and the player in question). Even if owned by another member of the party, the Gamemaster should ensure that the owner does not abuse their authority by giving unreasonable or unwanted orders to the other player's Droid character. A Droid player character should be treated the same as any other player character, and in most cases it is best to give suggestions or advice instead of actual orders. (In fact, most Droid heroes have a Heuristic Processor so that they can creatively interpret orders and thus justify acting as they wish.)

When you decide to play a Droid hero, you'll have to pack out a few details about what type of Droid your character will be. This is the equivalent of picking a Species for a non-Droid character.

Droid Traits[]

Main Article: Droid Traits

As inorganic mechanical beings, all Droids have certain attributes that affect how they interact with their environment and other beings.

Droid Models[]

The following sample Droids are presented as basic models, in their factory-preset state. The Trained Skills and Feats possessed by a basic model represent the Droid's core programming- characteristics the Droid maintains even after being subjected to a Memory Wipe.

The five available Droid Degrees include:

Droid Systems[]

Main Article: Droid Systems

Droids are mechanical beings with interchangeable parts. As such, the functionality of Droids range as widely as the organic Species of Star Wars. Droids can be differentiated between one another based on their Droid Model, as well as their own Droid Systems. While the Model represents the Droid's function, the modified Droid Systems a Droid installs can show a Droid's personality and specializations.

Droid Talents[]

Main Article: Droid Talents

Droid Talents work the same as the Talents presented in the primary Talents page; however, each Droid Talent Tree is available only to Droids of a particular Degree. Any time a Droid would normally gain a Talent (such as from gaining an odd-numbered level to a Heroic Class), the Droid can select a Droid Talent from among those present in the below Droid Talent Trees.

Additional Droid Chassis[]

Reference Book: Star Wars Saga Edition Scavenger's Guide to Droids

Main Article: Droid Chassis

Players can select a stock Droid Chassis when creating a Droid Hero. This streamlined method of Droid creation treats each Droid Chassis as a Species. Each Droid Chassis represents the basis for creating a type of Droid rather than a specific model, so a player can quickly generate a new model of Droid, or emulate an existing model while building a character entirely with Heroic Levels. Stock Droid Chassis can also be used to create specific models of Droids, since the chassis share features of the specific Droid Models of that class of Droid.

However, the customization required to make the Droid Chassis match up with a specific Droid Model in question might make other methods more appealing. In some cases, an existing model might not be exactly replicated, but the differences can be attributed to variances in production or aftermarket customizations to the standard model. The size and speed of a chassis cannot be altered without Gamemaster approval. This book features several Droid Models that are suitable for use as player characters. Each has a sidebar describing how to create the Droid using a Droid Chassis.

Additional Droid Manufacturers[]

Reference Book: Star Wars Saga Edition Scavenger's Guide to Droids

Main Article: Droid Manufacturers

Millions of manufacturing companies produce Droids. Most are small companies that cater to local regions, manufacture specialized units, or focus on highly customized models. The major interstellar manufacturers dominate specific markets, although those markets shift as the demands of the galactic government and mega corporations change.

Throughout the Clone Wars and the Galactic Civil War, Cybot Galactica and Industrial Automaton are the dominant manufacturers, with Arakyd Industries, MerenData, Serv-O-Droid, and Veril Line Systems as major players in their respective markets. During the Clone Wars, most Separatist Battle Droids are manufactured by Baktoid Combat Automata forces, with other units coming from the Techno Union, Colicoid Creation Nest, and the Commerce Guild. However, Droid manufacturing has existed for thousands of years. In the time of The Old Republic, 4,000 years before The Rebellion Era, Czerka Corporation, Duwani Mechanical Products, and Aratech Repulsor Company dominated the Droid markets of their day; other well-known manufacturers, such as MerenData and Serv-O-Droid, were also becoming competitive.

Although manufacturing plants can be found on both major and lesser world s, a significant percentage of Droids come from either Mechis III or Telti. These two worlds specialize in Droid production to such an extent that their surfaces are essentially covered by automated precision-manufacturing plants. The major manufacturers use these fabrication facilities extensively. Most of the Droids built in these facilities are shipped by bulk freighter, but light freighter jockeys make a decent living running small orders to isolated regions of the galaxy.

Additional Droid Quirks[]

Reference Book: Star Wars Saga Edition Scavenger's Guide to Droids

Main Article: Droid Quirks

Droids are temperamental machines, exposed to every kind of environmental and physical abuse. With limited programming and typically deficient maintenance schedules, many Droids develop odd mechanical glitches and personality quirks. Most are minor- more annoyances than anything dangerous. Memory Wipes can eliminate personality quirks, but they do nothing for physical abnormalities.

Droid Quirks are optional in Saga Edition. They make interesting and easy roleplaying hooks, as well as give players inspiration for the development of personalities and backgrounds for their Droids. Some Droid Quirks might also have minor mechanical effects. If no game mechanic is indicated in the quirk description, a +2 or -2 circumstance bonus to Skill Checks or attack rolls might be appropriate whenever the quirk manifests. Players and Gamemasters are encouraged to select Droid Quirks that make characters memorable. Additionally, Droid Quirks can be assigned as the result of physical damage or sensory overload. If a Droid is reduced to 0 Hit Points, roll 1d20+10. If the result exceeds the Droid's Fortitude Defense, the unit develops a Droid Quirk when it is repaired. The Gamemaster can assign an appropriate Droid Quirk or roll on Droid Quirks Table.

Additional Droid Data Ports[]

Reference Book: Star Wars Saga Edition Scavenger's Guide to Droids

Main Article: Droid Data Ports

For the most part, Gamemasters and players need not worry about the exact type of data ports and other connections between a Droid and a computer, Vehicle, or network. However, the Gamemaster might decide that this information should play a part in the story or would otherwise logically come into play. For instance, it might make sense for an astromech Droid to be able to slice into a complex computer system, but a lowly power Droid probably does not have the equipment for it. Also, rare or alien Droids or those from another era might have nonstandard ports.

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