So my players want to use a pack animal of some sort to head into the wilds in Temple of the Twelve.
Reasonable. But also with very little core rule support!
As they were discussing it they did give me the out of making it some sort of a sci fi equivalent of a pack animal. So I looked into differnt parts of the rules and the closest analogue I can come up with is a specialized vehicle. I quickly wrote this up. I'm sure it needs a lot of editing but here's the gist of it:
Robo Mule Level 1
Price 500 Medium land Vehicle (5 ft. wide, 5 ft. long, 5 ft. high)
Speed Same as a typical PC
EAC 10; KAC 11; Cover none
HP 7 (2); Hardness 4
Attack (Collision) 2d4 (DC 9)
Modifiers –1 Piloting or Survival, -2 attack
Systems Transport Module, Travel Battery, Saddle Attachment, Animal Intelligence,
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Transport Module (Ex) The Robo Mule is able to carry 15 Bulk of equipment without any change to its speed.
Travel Battery (Ex) In standard operation the Robo Mule uses up 4 batteries for every regular day of travel. Less strenuous or more strenuous activities can change the rate battery consumption as per GM discretion.
Saddle Attachment (Ex) The Robo Mule comes with an optional saddle attachment, a small or medium sized humanoid can ride the Robo Mule. This reduces the Robo Mule Transport Module's carrying capacity to 11 Bulk without any change in speed.
Animal Intelligence (Ex) The Robo Mule has a rudimentary AI that mimics the behaviour of common pack animals on primitive worlds. They react to danger by acting 'afraid' and acting for self preservation just like a biological organism would. It reacts well to the same kind of treatment that a real pack animal would (Survival checks can be used to direct the animal). This allows the Robo Mule to act with autonomy and not require direct control at all times.
This behaviour can be overridden but requires either direct access to the robo mule's computing module or a hacking kit. The computer module is a Tier 2 computer. Once overridden the operator must devote a move action and a DC 10 computers check whenever the Robo Mule's movement is to be changed. Full direct control requires a DC 15 computers check and no other action can be taken while the operator is thus controlling the Robo Mule.
I like it. I think I'd add an upgraded version that uses a complex AI, giving it true SRO intelligence, known in the trade literature as the Maximized Reasoning Emulation Device or MR.ED.