d20 FUTURE
ROBOTS - SENSORS
Robots are unable to perceive their surroundings without a sensor system of some kind. Without sensors, they are effectively blind and deaf, and they suffer penalties on certain checks—if they can attempt them at all.
Sight: A robot without visual sensors suffers a –4 penalty on all skill checks and cannot make Spot checks.
Sound: A robot without audio sensors suffers a –2 penalty on all skill checks and cannot make Listen checks.
Touch: A robot without tactile sensors suffers a –4 penalty on all Demolitions, Disable Device, Forgery, and Repair checks.
Smell: A robot without olfactory sensors suffers no particular penalties.
Taste: A robot without gustatory sensors suffers no particular penalties.
To build a sensor system from scratch, a character must succeed at a Craft (electrical) check (DC 30) after investing 60 hours in its assembly. A character without an electrical tool kit takes a –4 penalty on the skill check. The character must also make a Wealth check against the sensor system’s purchase DC.
Robot sensor systems are further separated by type and purchase DC:
Type: The type of sensors (visual, audio, tactile, olfactory, gustatory) included in the system.
Purchase DC: The cost of the sensor system.
Restriction: A sensor system does not require a special license to purchase.
CLASS I SENSOR SYSTEM (PL 5)
This sensor system includes a low-res video camera and a basic audio receiver (effectively a robotic ear).
A robot with a Class I sensor system takes a –4 penalty on all Demolitions, Disable Device, Forgery, and Repair checks, and a –2 penalty on all other skill checks.
Type: Audio, Visual
Purchase DC: 13
CLASS II SENSOR SYSTEM (PL 5)
This sensor system includes a video camera with infrared capability, capable of discerning creatures and objects by their heat signatures. It also includes a basic audio receiver and a crude chemical sniffer (a series of filters that detect free-floating chemical residues).
A robot with a Class II sensor system takes a –4 penalty on all Demolitions, Disable Device, Forgery, and Repair checks. All other skill checks are made without penalty.
Type: Audio, Olfactory, Visual
Purchase DC: 15
CLASS III SENSOR SYSTEM (PL 5)
This sensor system includes a video camera with infrared capability, a basic audio receiver, and a crude chemical sniffer.
A robot with a Class III sensor system takes no penalties on skill checks.
Type: Audio, Olfactory, Visual
Purchase DC: 17
CLASS IV SENSOR SYSTEM (PL 6)
This sensor system includes hi-res video sensors, a hi-fidelity audio sensor, a chemical vapor scanner, and a pressure sensor that enables the robot to perform tasks requiring manual dexterity.
A robot with a Class IV sensor system gains a +2 equipment bonus on Listen and Spot checks. All other skill checks are made without penalty.
Type: Audio, Olfactory, Tactile, Visual
Purchase DC: 17
CLASS V SENSOR SYSTEM (PL 6)
This sensor system includes hi-res video sensors with darkvision (out to 60 feet), hi-fidelity audio sensors, a chemical vapor scanner, pressure sensors, and either a ladar or sonar system. Ladar uses laser detectors and ranging sensors to rapidly play low-powered laser beams across the robot’s surroundings, allowing it to locate targets. Sonar sensors are used mostly in subaquatic environments, but the technology works almost as well in the air. By bouncing sound waves off objects and measuring the length of time it takes to receive an echo, sonar can produce a clear image of the robot’s surroundings.
Ladar Version: A robot with a ladar-equipped Class V sensor system gains a +4 equipment bonus on Spot checks and a +2 equipment bonus on Listen checks. All other skill checks are made without penalty.
Sonar Version: A robot with a sonar-equipped Class V sensor system gains a +4 equipment bonus on Listen checks and a +2 equipment bonus on Spot checks. All other skill checks are made without penalty.
Type: Audio, Olfactory, Tactile, Visual
Purchase DC: 19
CLASS VI SENSOR SYSTEM (PL 6)
This sensor system includes hi-res video sensors with darkvision (out to 120 feet), hi-fidelity audio sensors, a chemical vapor scanner, pressure sensors, and short-range radar that allows a robot to not only perceive its surroundings but also target more effectively.
A robot with a Class VI sensor system gains a +2 equipment bonus on Listen and Spot checks. All other skill checks are made without penalty. The robot also gains a +1 equipment bonus on initiative checks.
Type: Audio, Olfactory, Tactile, Visual
Purchase DC: 22
CLASS VII SENSOR SYSTEM (PL 7)
This sensor system includes hi-definition video sensors with darkvision (out to 120 feet), acoustic audio sensors, a chemical vapor scanner, pressure sensors, and multiband radar that uses multiple concurrent radar signals in different frequencies to gather more data.
A robot with a Class VII sensor system gains a +2 equipment bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks. All other skill checks are made without penalty. The robot also gains a +2 equipment bonus on initiative checks.
Type: Audio, Olfactory, Tactile, Visual
Purchase DC: 22
CLASS VIII SENSOR SYSTEM (PL 7)
This sensor system includes hi-definition video sensors with darkvision (out to 120 feet), acoustic audio sensors, a sophisticated olfactory sensor, a tactile sensor array, and multiband radar.
A robot with a Class VII sensor system gains the scent ability. It also gains a +2 equipment bonus on Demolitions, Disable Device, Forgery, Listen, Repair, Search, and Spot checks. All other skill checks are made without penalty. The robot also gains a +2 equipment bonus on initiative checks.
Type: Audio, Olfactory, Tactile, Visual
Purchase DC: 25
CLASS IX SENSOR SYSTEM (PL 8)
This sensor system includes a full-spectrum eye with darkvision (out to 180 feet), a full-frequency ear, a sophisticated olfactory sensor, a tactile sensor array, and multiband radar.
A robot with a Class IX sensor system gains the scent ability. It also gains a +2 equipment bonus on Demolitions, Disable Device, Forgery, Listen, Repair, Search, and Spot checks. All other skill checks are made without penalty. The robot also gains a +3 equipment bonus on initiative checks.
Type: Audio, Olfactory, Tactile, Visual
Purchase DC: 26
NERVE WEB (PL 8)
The nerve web is an advanced sensor array that simulates the function of an organic nervous system. This sensor system includes a full-spectrum eye with darkvision (out to 180 feet), a full-frequency ear, a sophisticated olfactory sensor, tactile and gustatory sensors, and multiband radar.
A robot with a Class IX sensor system gains the scent ability. It also gains a +4 equipment bonus on Demolitions, Disable Device, Forgery, Listen, Repair, Search, and Spot checks. All other skill checks are made without penalty. The robot also gains a +3 equipment bonus on initiative checks.
Type: Audio, Gustatory, Olfactory, Tactile, Visual
Purchase DC: 28
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