Designed To Do More Than Kill: L.E.O. Robots in Starfinder (Patreon)

The fast and simple creation creation rules in Starfinder can seem to lean towards making creatures that exist only to kill or be killed. But that doesn't have to be the case. Once you know what the most a creature of a given CR can do, it's easy to give them other options... if it makes sense. It would be unusual for an assassin to not use their most deadly attack once they find themselves in an attack, but the same logic doesn't apply to every npc you make. This is especially true if you use the Expert array for a creature, rather than making them a Combatant or Spellcaster. The wider range of skills allows Experts to make create sneaks, con men, scientists, mechanics, and investigators. That doesn't mean they can't also be effective in a fight, but in general an Expert should be a character you see making a lot of skill checks as part of their core duties or function.

Here's an example of an Expert creature PCs might well end up fighting, but may also work alongside depending on the circumstances. An Elite Law-Enforcement Officer robot can serve as an obstacle PCs want to get around without violence--perhaps trying to use Stealth to avoid its notice, or hoping to manage Bluff or Slight of Hand without making it suspicious. The robot's skills are designed to make it useful for detecting criminals, and even tracking them, while it's combat options allow it to engage much-lower level PCs without the GM worrying about killing them, as it prefer less-lethal tactics if a situation doesn't seem dire.

(Art by Kit8 d.o.o.)

Robot, Elite-Class Law Enforcement (Expert)

CR 3

XP 800

LN Medium construct (technological)

Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, blindsense 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +9

DEFENSE

HP 35

EAC 14; KAC 15

Fort +0; Ref +0; Will +4

Immunities construct immunities

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft., fly 60 ft. (average), swim 30 ft.

Melee integral standard taclash +10 (1d4+5 S nonlethal, plus grab) orintegral static polarity gauntlets +10 (1d6+5 E, plus grab)

Ranged integral static arc pistol +8 (1d6+3 E; critical arc 2) orintegral utility breaching gun +8 (1d10+3 P; critical knockdown)

STATISTICS

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

Skills Computers +14, Culture +9, Medicine +9, Sense Motive +14, Survival +14

Languages Common

Other abilities amphibious, unliving

Gear standard taclash, static polarity gauntlets, static arc pistol, utility breaching gun, flash grenade I, riot grenade I, foam grenade I, collapsible ladder(40 ft.), emergency beacon, fire extinguisher, flashlight, datapad, manacles, medkit (basic)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Grab (Ex) If an elite L.E.O. robot hits with its taclash it deals damage normally. If the attack also hits the  target's KAC + 4, the L.E.O. robot also automatically grapples the foe as a free action. (If it hits the target's KAC + 13, it instead pins the target.) The L.E.O. robot does not need to have a spare limb free to perform this grapple, as long as it can make a taclash attack, and it can potentially grapple more than one target (one with its taclash, one with a gauntlet). The L.E.O. robot can maintain the grab either with another successful grab attack or by performing the grapple combat maneuver normally.

Description

Elite L.E.O. robots are designed to keep in peace in areas where either biological law enforcement can't safely function, or in societies where few citizens are interested in becoming law enforcement officers. though often thought of as no more than mindless automatons, the Elite L.E.O. robots are constructed by mortals working from designs provided by mechanical law-enforcing outsiders known as Inevitables, and like S.R.O.s have a soul and self-awareness. But Elite L.E.O. are also hard-wired to obey local laws and the Rules of Engagement under which they operate in a society.

Under the factory-set rules of engagement, an elite L.E.O. robot does not intentionally deal lethal damage or use its gantlets or breaching gun to attack creatures unless those creatures pose a clear and present danger to a citizen within the robot’s jurisdiction. Of course, once bought by a law enforcement agency those rules of engagement can be changed. Common alternates are to use lethal force once the L.E.O. robot has taken damage, or even if it decides a target is more likely than not to deal damage to the robot (even if they target has not yet made any attacks).

Invitables have been encouraging the construction of robotic L.E.O.'s for centuries, and sometimes the Elite class of these robots outlive the societies they original patrolled. Such robotic L.E.O.s may stand in ruined cities, waiting for someone to need their guidance and help, or they may restore themselves to their factory settings, and go seeking a group that need their protection and enforcement.

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My friend (and brilliant cartoonist) Stan! has done a whole series of drawings inspired by my online ramblings. He refers to them as "Damn It, Owen!" cartoons, since they get in his head and prevent him from doing other work until he draws them. He's been doing these for years, so now we're collecting them into a book!

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Damnitowen.com