Hardware: Robotics Genius

HARDWARE: ROBOTICS GENIUS by Severus Snape

These characters are the geniuses who design and build power armor, robots, and androids, as well as being the geniuses who design and program the software that the robots use. The bionics genius is able to take a schematic and turn it into a functioning robot, suit of power armor, or an android, or take the specifications document and turn it into a fully-functioning suite of artificial intelligence software. The character is able to build any portion of the robot, from the chassis and frame to armor and weapons.

Robotics Related Skills and Bonuses

The following skills are received in addition to Scholastic and Secondary skills. Note that this character loses two skill programs due to receiving these and the special skills.

Advanced Mathematics (+25%)

Basic Electronics (+10%)

Basic Mechanics (+10%)

2 Communications Skills of Choice (+10%)

Computer Operation (+25%)

Computer Programming (+25%)

Mechanical Engineer (+30%)

3 Mechanical or Electronic Skills of Choice (+20%)

2 Pilot, Basic Skills of Choice (+10%)

1 Pilot, Advanced Skill of Choice (+10%)

Read Sensory Equipment (+25%)

Robot Electronics (+20%)

Robot Mechanics (+20%)

Weapons Engineer (+15%)

Weapons Systems (+20%)

Robotics Genius Special Skills

Computer Programming, Artificial Intelligence (80% + 1%/level): This skill allows the robotics genius to actually create and install the software packages that are used by robots, from the basic skill packages all the way to the advanced artificial intelligence used by Type 2 and Type 4 robots and androids. The character must have access to military-grade computers and the applicable software development environment in order to do this, but if they do they can write the necessary software.

This skill also allows the robotics genius to test and debug any software that is written for robots and androids. Debugging is not an easy process, and can take several hours just to find a single line of code causing the smallest of flaws. If the character is testing/debugging code that he did not write, then the skill is performed with a penalty of -30% due to being unfamiliar with the style of the original programmer, as well as potentially not having any documentation for the code. If the code is his or her own, the skill can be performed with no penalty.

Writing software is a tedious, time-consuming process. It can take days, weeks, or even months to design, code, test, and implement a single enhancement to existing software, let alone the amount of time it would take to do this from scratch. It is assumed that it will take 1d10 + 30 days to update an existing piece of software for every enhancement being made, while it will take 3d10 + 30 days to create a new piece of software for every function it has. That is, if a new piece of software is being designed and it will have 3 different functions, it will take 3d10 + 30 days for each function – which could end up taking a maximum total time of 180 days! That’s 6 months!

It should also be noted that the more complex the software will be, the harder it will be to create and implement that piece of software. There are no hard rules on this, but generally a penalty of -5% to -40% should be applied for creating any piece of software that is more complex than, say, a video game (and those can be pretty complex!)

Recognize Robotic Quality (80% + 2%/level): This skill allows the robotics genius the ability to look at robots and robotic parts and gauge the quality. This includes the ability to gauge the workmanship, quality of the raw materials used to create the robot or part, and the quality/effectiveness of it. The character can also attempt to determine the quality of the equipment used to create the robot or part by looking at the part only, but does so with a -30% penalty to this skill. If the character has access to the equipment used to create the robot or part, the penalty does not apply when gauging the quality of the equipment.

Build Super Vehicles (84% + 2%/level): This is the same skill as outlined in the Heroes Unlimited core rule book on page 126, except that the skill is applicable to building Type 1 robots.

Budget

Robotics Geniuses receive a starting budget, and this budget can be used to build a robot. However, the character may only build a Type 1 robot at the start of the game; should the character acquire the necessary cash during game play, he or she could build a Type 2, 3, or 4 robot/android later on. At least 90% of the starting budget must be spent on the super vehicle/Type 1 robot and/or spare parts. The remaining 10% may be saved for future use, but only for the purchase of robotic parts or the raw materials to craft them from.

Working on a robot or writing the AI requires a fairly specialized work area. It is assumed that the character either has, has access to, or at one time had access to such a facility that is/was outfitted with 3d4 x $100,000 in equipment and tools needed to work on the parts and/or the implantation. If the facility is owned by the character (see Sponsoring Organizations above), then it is assumed that the character has spent 4d6 x $10,000 on the location of the facility itself. Any money left over from the budget can be used for additional items for the facility, such as security or additional equipment.

Roll once on the following table to determine budget. Alternatively, you can select whichever amount you feel is adequate for the character’s concept.

01-07 $1 million

07-14 $1.5 million

14-20 $2 million

20-27 $2.5 million

27-33 $3 million

33-40 $3.5 million

40-46 $4 million

46-53 $4.5 million

53-59 $5 million

59-66 $5.5 million

66-72 $6 million

72-79 $6.5 million

79-87 $7 million

87-94 $7.5 million

94-00 $8 million

Once the budget is determined, the character can either build a super vehicle by following the listed rules for that, or he/she may build a Type 1 robot by following those rules. It is the characters choice as to which path they follow.

Other Stuff

Alignment: Characters can be of any alignment, but heroes are generally good people.

Other Skills: For starters, the character receives a bonus of +10% to any mechanical or robotic skill. The character may use his or her Secondary Skills to pick any skills normally available as such, as well as using Secondary Skills to select any that are not normally available as long as they are mechanical or robotic in nature.

Hand to Hand Combat: Hand to Hand skills must be selected by the character. If not, the character will have only the 2 Hand to Hand melee actions per round that all heroes receive.

Actions/Attacks per Melee Round: As stated, unless Hand to Hand skills are selected, the character will only have 2 melee actions per round.

Weapons and Armor: Unless the character is extremely wealthy or has ties to the military, he or she will only have access to conventional weapons and armor.

Structural Damage Capacity (S.D.C.): As with all Hardware characters, the Robotics Genius starts with 35 SDC, plus any SDC gained through physical training/skill selection. Selection of multiple Hardware areas of expertise does not provide additional SDC bonuses.

Other Options: If the Game Master allows it, the Robotics Genius may give up 3 of his or her Hand to Hand attacks and reduce all skill bonuses in half to select a second area of expertise. These attacks may never be gotten back, and the skill bonus reduction is permanent, but the character would end up with quite the list of skills and abilities. Characters may not have more than 2 areas of expertise.