Android

Androids are superficially identical to humans in many ways, and to the uninformed it can be difficult to differentiate the two. In the right light, though, androids’ alien nature is revealed by the metallic sheen in their eyes and the biological, tattoo-like circuitry that riddles their skin. Their bodies are completely artificial, though made of materials that mimic the flexibility, shape, and density of human flesh and bone. Their organs mirror those of humans so well that only by examining the materials and makeup of these systems—which use sheeny oils and polymer alloys rather than blood and marrow—could one guess that their physiology is alien. Androids are roughly the same size as humans; on average, they are 6 feet tall and weigh 200 pounds.

Iron Born. Scholars speak of great forges where androids are “born” from metal wombs and are cut from electrified umbilical cords. Even androids can’t refute or verify such stories, since most who emerge from ruins do so naked and without any memories beyond their initial egress into the wide, unfamiliar world. Their complex design is unlike that of any race known, leading many to suspect that they originated from a distant star system or even another galaxy.

Ghost in the Machine. What separates androids from golems and other mindless constructs is that androids are living beings and as such possess souls. Similarly, androids don’t live forever, though barring violence or tragedy their bodies never deteriorate. Rather, an android’s cybernetic mind eventually shuts down and self-restarts after about a century, leaving its body vacant for several weeks as the old soul departs for its final reward in the planes beyond and a fresh, new soul finds its way into the shell.

Assigned Identity. Most androids are randomly assigned appropriate names when they are created in the android foundries of their birth. Though they may not remember details of their long lives they do always remember their names. Android as natives of another world tend to have alien-sounding names. They also tend to prefix android (or something similar like a military rank) in front of their names when dealing with non-android. They tend not to have last names though they may – depending on where they live. Many androids append a number to the beginning or end of their name.

Standard Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength or Intelligence increase by 1.

Age. Immortal. You do not reproduce and there is a fixed and dwindling number of your kind. You are unaffected by the passage of time. However, you can still die through violence. Once destroyed you cannot be resurrected via magic means.

Alignment. Most androids are lawful, believing firmly in the benefits of a well-ordered society. And most likely as a result of their inbuilt programming which abhors chaos. They tend toward neutrality as well, as they tend to have only logic as their guide. However, an android can be any alignment depending on where it was found and who, if anyone, adopted and cared for the creature. They will tend to adopt the moral outlook and values of their host society.

Size. As a manufactured person you stand exactly 6 feet tall and weigh approximately 300 pounds of synthetic muscle and bone. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Exceptional Senses. You have darkvision to a range of 60 feet. You also gain proficiency in the Perception skill.

Logical Mind. Lawful and Neutral android also gain proficiency in Intelligence (Investigation), but are also harder to relate to, and have disadvantage on their choice of Charisma (Deception) or Charisma (Persuasion). Those who are chaotic have abandoned the ways of logic and are considered faulty by other androids and do not receive this benefit or disadvantage.

Gift of the Machine God. For the purposes of effects targeting creatures by type (such as a ranger’s favored enemy and bane weapons), androids count as both humans and constructs. You gain advantage on saving throws against enchantments, and the paralyzed, poisoned, and stunned condition, , and are immune to disease and and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Emotionless. As a machine, you have problems processing emotions properly, and thus have disadvantage on all Charisma-related checks.

Nanite Surge. Your body is infused with nanites. Once per day as a bonus action, or as a reaction to rolling a d20, you can cause your nanites to surge, granting a d6 bonus to any one d20 roll; this ability may be activated before or after the roll is made. There is always a visual cue when this ability is used – circuitry beneath the skin of the android glows through, your eyes glow, you gain a subtle aura of pixels and so on. This light is equivalent to a torch and lasts 1 round.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language appropriate to your background. You can also learn languages quickly quartering the downtime normally required by other races. They also have an affinity for English (the language of the forges that birthed them) and may master this language as a bonus language given the right circumstances – access to a teacher, recovery of English dictionaries etc.

Alternate Traits

Anomaly. Sometimes, a particularly volatile soul can overwhelm the technology of an android body, making the resulting individual subject to emotions, and greatly so. As an anomalous android you suffer disadvantage on saving throws against all enchantment effects and the frightened condition but you gain suffer no penalty on Charisma checks. Additionally, you are proficient in Persuasion and Insight. This racial trait modifies gift of the machine god and replaces emotionless.

Cloaked Circuits. Android bodies built for stealth and infiltration employ camouflage circuitry in place of enhanced sensors. Your circuits do not glow when using your nanite surge when making Dexterity (Stealth) checks. Wisdom (Perception) checks made to see you have disadvantage and you have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide, as your skin’s color shifts to camouflage you. This racial trait replaces exceptional senses.

Conduit. Rarely, an android’s circuitry is built to act as a potent conduit for divine power. Androids with this trait increase their Charisma or Wisdom by 2. This racial trait replaces nanite surge and the standard ability score increase.

Repairing Nanites. Some androids cannot prompt their nanites to aid them in any endeavor, but instead find that their nanites stitch their wounds together. The first time you take damage each day, your nanites automatically activate, without an action. Your circuitry-tattoos glow with light equivalent to that of a torch for 1 round and you may spend a Hit Die to heal yourself. This racial trait replaces nanite surge.