Can Androids become (corporeal) Undead

[grandobsidian]

So, I haven't run into this problem in game just yet, but it was a thought that crossed my mind while doing some adventure planning. As far as I understand, Starfinder androids are most similar to bladerunner replicants in that they are at least effectively organic, still requiring basic human needs except for oxygen. I assume, given they have souls they can become any incorporeal undead such as a ghost or wraith, but I don't know if they're bodies necessarily facilitate rising as a zombie, ghoul or most importantly, a marooned. I realize a psychotic android and a malicious undead would share a lot of similar traits and I feel like I need to find a certain line to distinguish them from each other.

[Ravingdork]

Yes. Yes they can.

[ghostunderasheet]

There are cybernetic zombies which are non-magical zombies. The body dies but the machine parts keeps the body moving.

[Xeall]

Pretty sure there is one in one of the books. They have souls and while the flesh may be synthetic, it’s still flesh.

[Metaphysician]

Here's a thought, though. Most undead form out of dead bodies in which the soul is either trapped, or recently gone, but other way, its the soul of the decedent. However, a dead android naturally draws a new soul, as part of the respawning process.

So, you could entirely have varieties of undead androids wherein they possess a trapped, tormented soul. . . but the *new* one, not the original decedent.

[Gilfalas]

I see nothing in their write up to suggest they cannot become undead. They are alive and so unless otherwise specified I see no reason that they cannot become any kind of undead.

[Brew Bird]

There's an android Vampire in one of the Adventure Paths, so yes, Androids can become corporeal undead. They have souls and organic components, so they can presumably be reanimated by negative energy in the same way any fully organic creature can.

[Greydoch]

I would also argue that dying and the process of releasing your soul to make way for a new one are inherently different. Starving to death, bleeding out, or succumbing to a disease leaves a body damaged in some way and probably not suitable for a new life to come into it like a purposefully surrendered body would be.
-Beta

[Xeall]

Metaphysician wrote:

Here's a thought, though. Most undead form out of dead bodies in which the soul is either trapped, or recently gone, but other way, its the soul of the decedent. However, a dead android naturally draws a new soul, as part of the respawning process.

So, you could entirely have varieties of undead androids wherein they possess a trapped, tormented soul. . . but the *new* one, not the original decedent.

I’m under the impression androids undergo a process in which they pass on in order for a new soul to inhabit the body. It had to be willing. Pretty certain death is death. Otherwise someone torn in half would die from shock and a new person would spawn with no legs bleeding out.

I guess if you could rebuild the body after you could try to urge a new soul in.

Side note: I guess you could do an awesome new form of undead by having someone create undead in the moment the process of swapping over occurs. One new soul unaware of what’s happening & another angrily trapped in its own dead body with its, socially speaking, child.

[Ventnor]

Well, considering that an actual undead PC race, Borais, have an option to allow androids to be the race they were before becoming undead, I'm going to have to say that corporeal undead androids are 100% a thing in Starfinder.

[Owen K. C. Stephens]

Androids can become corporeal undead.

[BigNorseWolf]

Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:

Androids can become corporeal undead.

[zombie android]Ceeee PEEEE UuuUUUUUuuUUUUUus [/zombie android]

[Tender Tendrils]

I think your artificially created life form dying and becoming a ghoul that hungers for flesh is a case of suceeeding too much at creating life.