どうもありがとう, Mr. Roboto? [SPOILERS!]

[Archpaladin Zousha]

I repeat, SERIOUS spoilers for the entire AP in this thread! Proceed at your own risk!

With that out of the way...:

Given the PCs are meant to be clones, where does that leave obviously artificial species such as androids and SROs? Are we to assume that robotic PCs were just batch-ordered from some factory the way clone PCs are? How do the story beats meant to emphasize to the PCs that their pasts are artificial and their whole life is a lie work for characters who are all too aware of their artificiality and aren't really bothered by starting as a blank slate?

[Hmm]

Your title made me smile, Zousha!

[CorvusMask]

Having false memories in general is pretty traumatizing :p

[SpiderOrc]

What CorvusMask said. It's up to the GM to ensure each player character has some degree of background that will get upended and contribute to the character's shock at discovering their true origins eventually. What exactly that background is entirely subjective, of course, so yes, an android character might choose to start play fresh off the 3d printer. For them, the weirdness might originate from discovering that their doppelgänger whom they were based on is in fact some famous, accomplished pianist or diplomat or what have you.

For an android, also, mass production isn't the only way for them to begin existence. They could be a lovingly created simulacrum that is entirely unique. Remember, within the Pact Worlds proper, androids are technically free and independent, and may not be enslaved, i.e. created for any use without independence. They face old prejudices, of course, but it's really the unethical corporations that still produce androids illegally, mostly outside the Pact Worlds, beyond the reach of law.

SROs are different, though, I believe, as they are more "spontaneously attracted a soul by achieving AI sentience"

[Lavabeing]

The Grays are supposed to be one of the most technologically advanced (if not THE most advanced)
culture in the campaign setting. Explain the twist however you want, but despite the implausibility of the explanation for your robotic party members remember you can just explain that "yes, the twist also applies to them too".

[Lavabeing]

Lavabeing wrote:

The Grays are supposed to be one of the most technologically advanced (if not THE most advanced)

culture in the campaign setting. Explain the twist however you want, but despite the implausibility of the explanation for your robotic party members remember you can just explain that "yes, the twist also applies to them too".

Also

Spoiler:

they are clones of important people that also exist in the setting. So telling your players that

* There already exists a exact duplicate of your character who is just like your character.
* The non player character is the original.
* The PCs are meant to replace the originals in a devious scheme that was meant to strip the PCs of their free will.
* And oh yeah, the PCs didn't actually experience the events prior to the start of book 1

Finding out you are the evil clone is going to set off any character regardless of the process details.