Making a robot NPC

[Opuk0]

I'm planning on running an alien focused campaign soon with some friends, and amongst the cast of NPCs is a robot

I've never made a creature however, and while I've come along a bit, I'm having a hard time measuring how powerful to make it

So far, it's a medium sized construct with robot traits. I'd like to give it more defensive abilities, but I'm not sure how it would translate into a CR rating. Is there a calculator for CR according to abilities and such?

[blackbloodtroll]

Android.

[Opuk0]

It's starting the campaign in pieces, I don't think an android will be as easy to fix

[Verteidiger]

Give it the Clockwork template?

[Opuk0]

That kind of still leaves me with the problem of not knowing what its CR would be. I'm making this creature completely from scratch save for the construct and robot templates

[Ciaran Barnes]

Its an NPC, so doesn't need to follow the same rules as your PCs. I assume the NPC won't be taking the spotlight, so just make up whatever you want.

[VRMH]

CR ratings aren't produced by an exact science, and should be considered "ballpark figures" at best. Why do you want to calculate one anyway, for an NPC?

Also: a suit of armour that's actually an (automotive) intelligent item might fit the bill.

[Chyrone]

blackbloodtroll wrote:

Android.

Yup. Am playing one of those in a campaign. Perfect for acts of whatever alignment...no hesitation or regret if you lack emotion, just logic on what's best.

Verteidiger wrote:

Give it the Clockwork template?

As well, i've spent a couple of hours pondering and tinkering together a clockwork NPC....(Which is awaiting some feedback as well.)

[Opuk0]

This is my first time holding a campaign, so I'm kinda worried about messin' shit up

[Imbicatus]

You could just use 3.5 warforged to keep it simple.

[blackbloodtroll]

I know soon I will be able to finally play an Android, and unleash my Breakdance Robot build.

[Adam Daigle]

Opuk0 wrote:

I'm planning on running an alien focused campaign soon with some friends, and amongst the cast of NPCs is a robot

I've never made a creature however, and while I've come along a bit, I'm having a hard time measuring how powerful to make it

So far, it's a medium sized construct with robot traits. I'd like to give it more defensive abilities, but I'm not sure how it would translate into a CR rating. Is there a calculator for CR according to abilities and such?

Hey there! Page 290 in the Bestiary starts the section that talks about monster creation. Typically, you start with the concept and creature type (two things you've already done) and then assign the target CR. Once you decided on that, use Table 1–1 as a reference for where your numbers should be in the ballpark of for a creature of that CR. Building out the monster and then trying to figure out the CR is a little backwards, but its still doable.

Hope some of that helps.

[aegrisomnia]

You should check this out, it might give you some general ideas on how to make "robots" of approximately correct CR.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/constructs/animated-objec t

Using these rules, we could define the following creature by applying the Metal ability to a generic Medium animated object:

animated object (Medium) CR 3

XP 800
N Medium construct
Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception –5

DEFENSE

AC 16, touch 10, flat-footed 16 (+6 natural)
hp 36 (3d10+20)
Fort +1, Ref +1, Will -4
Defensive Abilities hardness 10; Immune construct traits

Metal (Ex, 2 CP): The object is made of common metal. Its hardness increases to 10, and it gains a +2 increase to its natural armor bonus.

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.
Melee slam +5 (1d6+3)

STATISTICS

Str 14, Dex 10, Con —, Int —, Wis 1, Cha 1
Base Atk +3; CMB +5; CMD 15
SQ 2 construction points

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Construction Points

Medium animated objects have 2 construction points.

ECOLOGY

Environment any
Organization solitary, pair, or group (3-12)
Treasure Value none

As it is, it gets a slam natural attack (you could replace with some other natural attack that does the same amount of damage) and/or give it some defects if you'd rather it use a weapon or something.

You can also spend more CP than the default; for every additional 2 CP, you increase the CR by 1. So if you want a CR 5 medium animated object, you could throw on 4 more CP of abilities... throw on some Energy Resistance if you want, for instance.

[Opuk0]

What is CP? This is the first time I've heard of it

[aegrisomnia]

If you check out the link I provide, it explains how to create Animated Objects using the spell. I'm suggesting that you can use these guidelines when creating your own robotic NPCs.

"CP" stands for "Construction Points" and is a system that applies only (AFAIK) when designing animated objects. You spend Construction Points to give your animated objects abilities. By default, all animated objects have hardness, a slam attack, and construct traits. Stats, HP, CP and baseline CR are determined by the size.

You can adjust the CR by spending more CP than you're allowed by default; for every 2 CP you spend above the default, the CR increases by 1. You could probably house-rule that spending less CP than you have available reduces CR in a similar manner.

Oh, and the link above has a space before the last "t" that shouldn't be there. You can just go to the d20pfsrd and search for "animated objects" to find the relevant info. Not sure why it's adding a space before the "t"... might be some sort of Muppet "safety" theater or something. Based on this I've taken the time to learn the silly formatting rules and have crafted the URL:

Animated Objects

[Tinalles]

Seconding Adam Daigle's advice. Pick the CR you want, then adjust its stats so that it's pretty close to table 1-1 in the bestiary appendix.

There's wiggle room in those. If one of the numbers is a little higher or lower, that's fine -- just adjust one one the others a bit to compensate. Like, maybe you want a CR 8 hulking melee robot. Suggested high attack is +15. If it comes in +16, that's fine, just bump something else down -- maybe it's got a particularly lousy Reflex save or something.