Hackable Foes in Starfinder: The CyBug (Patreon)

Starfinder rules are specifically designed to prevent androids, cyborgs, and sapient robots from being hacked in any meaningful way. One reason this was done was so player characters couldn't be forced to act in ways contrary to their player's wishes by methods that don't have the limitations of skills and mind-affecting magics. which means, there's no reason you can't make foes that have such vulnerabilities, which is honestly a lot of fun for players focusing on manipulating computers and technology rather than typical combat options.

Here's an example of a weakness you might add to a foe, 'Hackable,' and a low-CR brute of a creature you might add it to.

CyBug

CR 1

XP 400

N Small vermin (technological)

Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., blindsense 60 ft.; Perception +10

DEFENSE

HP 24

EAC 11; KAC 13

Fort +5; Ref +3; Will +1

OFFENSE

Melee slam +3, 1d2+2 bludgeonng

Ranged integral welding laser +8, 1d6+1 fire (laser)

Speed 30 ft., burrow 30 ft., climb 20 ft.

STATISTICS

Str +2; Dex +4; Con +1; Int -; Wis +0; Cha +0

Skills Acrobatics +5, Athletics +5, Perception +10

Other abilities constructed, hackable, mindless

Constructed (Ex): For effects targeting creatures by type, cybugs count as both constructs with the technological subtype and vermin (whichever type allows an ability to affect them for abilities that affect only one type, and whichever is worse for abilities that affect both types). They receive a +2 racial bonus to saving throws against disease, poison, and sleep, unless those effects specifically target constructs. In addition, cybugs do not breathe or suffer the normal environmental effects of being in a vacuum.

Hackable (Ex): Despite being vermin, cybugs can be hacked by characters able to remotely control a complex construct or hack a computer at range. This includes any mechanic with the drone class feature. A cybug also counts as a computer and a piece of held technology for skills, spells, and effects that can impact the function of computers and technological devices held by other creatures, even if they don’t normally affect creatures. A cybug that is pinned or helpless is also subject to normal Computer hacking and Engineering disable device skill rules, though the gain access task must be achieved if no ranged ability to hack is available. The DC for any check brought on by the cybug being hackable is 15 + double the cybug’s CR.

Description

CyBugs are a common threat in planets with extensive robotic sapiences, and computer-controlled cities or starships that have been left running on "autopilot" for centuries with no living creature's input (often leftovers from long-dead civilizations). There is disagreement whether cybugs are a single strain of creatures that only spread under these conditions, or if they are a general category of creature that naturally occurs in many different regions. There is also considerable disagreement whether they should be considered living creatures, robots, or some form of naturally-occurring simple android. What is not disagreed on is that they are annoying in small numbers, and an existential threat if they grow to number millions.

CyBugs generally seek to remove damaged or currently inactive technological systems, and rebuild them into more cybugs. They are a pest if they get into armories or reserve systems, as they make no distinction between broken tech, and currently inactive tech. Much like rats eat grain and moths eat cloth, cybugs eat tech as a form of reproduction. Their rebuilding takes days and is not a threat on a combat scale, but given time cybugs can take apart devices and entire engines that are much too tough for them to damage with their tiny wielding lasers. This is the way cybugs reproduce, and many robotic intelligences find them gnawing the metal bones of robotic graves, infesting crates of spare parts, and skittering through the lower levels of abandoned cities.

Cybugs are aggressive if their junkyard nests are disturbed, or if they are looking to expand into new territories due to population growth.

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