Scrap Drone 3 (9)

The Strange Bestiary

Scrap drones build themselves from the wreckage of other machines. Usually, that wreckage is caused by the scrap drones themselves, using weapons and defensive systems salvaged from previously defeated machines in an endless cycle of destruction, salvage, and upgrade. Never satisfied with their current configuration, scrap drones are driven by some deep-seated code to continually improve themselves, regardless of the damage and mayhem they cause along the way.

Different scrap drones can have different forms, but to remain viable, they must have mobility, at least one functioning weapon system, and a functional set of deployable salvage tools with which to rebuild themselves.

Scrap drones have only recently been encountered in recursions that operate under the law of Weird Science or, more worryingly, Standard Physics. It's possible to imagine that they owe their existence to an OSR project gone wrong.

Motive: Upgrade systems

Environment (Weird Science or Standard Physics): Anywhere other machines are found

Health: 9

Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (4 points) Armor:

Movement: Immediate; short when flying

Modifications: Speed defense as level 5 due to size and quickness; tasks related to mechanical and electrical repair as level 5.

Combat: A scrap drone usually has at least one projectile weapon system it can fire at a foe within long range, and powerful cutting torches and waldos it can bring to bear on targets within immediate range. Most drones also have one or more of the following weapon systems, which they can call on once (or once every few minutes for rechargeable systems).

• Missile. The drone attacks a foe with a miniature missile at long range, which inflicts a moderate wound (6 points) on all targets within long range of the detonation.
• EMP Pulse. All electronic machines or devices other than the drone within short range stop functioning for a minute. Independent or intelligent devices resist the power loss, as does any device in the possession of another creature. A creature can make a Speed defense roll to prevent its devices from losing power.
• Acid Blossom. A flurry of tiny, rocketpowered needles bursts from the drone and attacks all foes within short range. Those who fail a Speed defense roll take 2 points of Speed damage (ignores Armor) from acid that eats through metal, flesh, and plastic with equal ease. Interaction: Most scrap drones are barely intelligent and follow baseline programming, though a few possess lowlevel artificial intelligence and are willing to talk.

Use: When the PCs uncover a cache of Weird Science artifacts, useful electronics, or similar devices, they are set upon by a scrap drone.

Loot: Electronic parts potentially useful for other projects can be salvaged from a scrap drone’s remains, including tools for disassembling and reassembling drones. Scrap drones have only recently been encountered in recursions that operate under the law of Weird Science or, more worryingly, Standard Physics. It’s possible to imagine that they owe their existence to an OSR project gone wrong. GM Intrusion: The scrap drone deploys a single-use plasma cannon retrofitted from a much more powerful machine, and it argets the character at a range of up to 1 mile (2 km). On a failed Speed defense roll, the character takes 8 points of damage and descends one step on the damage track.