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Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Starfinder RPG Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition)

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Drone

Main Details | Archetypes | Chassis | Mods

Drone Chassis

Each drone has one of three chassis types that determines its size, starting statistics, and initial mods, as well as the drone’s overall look and theme. These chassis types are combat, hover, and stealth, and they are presented below. Each is organized as follows, using the terms below.
  • Size: This is the base size of your drone. Regardless of the mods you give your drone, its size does not change.
  • Speed: This shows the drone’s land speed and its speeds for any additional movement types.
  • AC: This is the base Energy Armor Class (EAC) and Kinetic Armor Class (KAC) for this chassis. Add the bonus to its AC from the below table and your drone’s Dexterity modifier to these numbers to determine the drone’s EAC and KAC.
  • Good Save: This type of saving throw is your drone’s best saving throw. This saving throw uses the Good Save bonus progression on the below table.
  • Poor Saves: These types of saving throws are your drone’s worst saving throws. These saving throws use the Poor Save bonus progression on the below table.
  • Ability Scores: This shows the drone’s base ability scores. Drones have no Constitution score. Any DCs or other statistics that rely on a Constitution score treat a drone as having a Constitution score of 10 (no bonus or penalty). Drones can’t use items that grant additional ability score increases.
  • Ability Increases: These are the drone’s ability scores that increase as you gain levels, as determined by the Ability Increase progression on the below table.
  • Bonus Skill Unit: Some chassis come programmed with knowledge of a skill that is a part of the chassis itself. This skill is a class skill for your drone, and it gains a number of ranks in that skill equal to your mechanic level. Your drone can use this skill while not under your direct control. This skill is in addition to the skill gained via the drone’s skill unit ability (see page 76). You can’t change this skill unit when you gain levels or when you rebuild your drone unless you choose a new chassis. If a chassis does not have a bonus skill unit entry, it gains no bonus skill units.
  • Initial Mods: Each chassis comes with initial drone mods that are a part of the chassis itself. These are in addition to the mods a drone gains by level. You can’t change these mods when you gain levels or rebuild your drone unless you choose a new chassis. The list of mods appears on page 77.

Artillery Drone

Source Tech Revolution pg. 25
Often built with a low profile to avoid return fire, an artillery drone is a mobile weapons platform strong enough to support the heaviest of ranged armaments. Its heavily armored core belies its exceptional agility and mechanical precision, allowing the drone to perch atop precarious vantage points and make tiny adjustments to line up the perfect shot.

Starting Statistics

Size Medium
Speed 30 ft.
AC EAC 10, KAC 12
Good Save Reflex
Poor Saves Fortitude, Will
Ability Scores Str 12, Dex 14, Con —, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6
Ability Increases Strength, Dexterity
Initial Mods weapon proficiency (heavy), weapon mount (x2)

Combat Drone

Source Starfinder Core Rulebook pg. 75
Bigger than other chassis options, the combat drone moves along the ground and is outfitted with wheels, tracks, legs, or a similar form of propulsion. This drone is designed specifically for battle. It has an armored body and multiple weapon mounts, allowing it to pack a variety of armaments.

Starting Statistics

Size Medium
Speed 30 ft.
AC EAC 10, KAC 13
Good Save Fortitude
Poor Saves Reflex, Will
Ability Scores Str 14, Dex 12, Con —, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6
Ability Increases Strength, Dexterity
Initial Mods reductive plating, weapon mount or melee weapon arm (up to 2 in any combination), weapon proficiency

Hover Drone

Source Starfinder Core Rulebook pg. 75
The hover drone is the smallest chassis and is equipped with miniature hoverjets or similar aerial propulsion (legs or wheels provide propulsion on land). This drone can fly and avoid obstacles but isn’t very stealthy. A hover drone with melee weapon arms or weapon mounts can use weapons designed for Small or Medium creatures without penalty.

Starting Statistics

Size Tiny
Speed 30 feet, fly 30 feet (perfect)
AC EAC 11, KAC 11
Good Save Reflex
Poor Saves Fortitude, Will
Ability Scores Str 6, Dex 16, Con —, Int 6, Wis 8, Cha 6
Ability Increases Dexterity, Wisdom
Bonus Skill Unit Acrobatics
Initial Mods flight system (x2, included in its speed), weapon mount

Protocol Drone

Source Tech Revolution pg. 25
Often built to resemble a sapient species, the protocol drone is an adept translator and negotiator programmed to sense and adapt to a wide variety of social situations and domestic tasks.

Starting Statistics

Size Small
Speed 30 ft.
AC EAC 11, KAC 11
Good Save Will
Poor Saves Fortitude, Reflex
Ability Scores Str 6, Dex 10, Con —, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 14
Ability Increases Wisdom, Charisma
Bonus Skill Unit Culture, plus either Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, or Sense Motive
Initial Mods linguistic module, manipulator arms, negotiator protocol (the negotiator protocol mod’s Charisma bonus is already included above)

Sage Drone

Source Tech Revolution pg. 25
Among the smallest of all drones, the sage drone is an ambulatory supercomputer designed to analyze its surroundings and provide real-time advice. The drone readily identifies and reacts to danger, proving an adept combatant despite its lightweight frame and minimal armor.

Starting Statistics

Size Tiny
Speed 30 ft.
AC EAC 11, KAC 12
Good Save Will
Poor Saves Fortitude, Reflex
Ability Scores Str 6, Dex 14, Con —, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 6
Ability Increases Intelligence, Wisdom
Bonus Skill Unit Two of the following: Computers, Culture, Life Science, Mysticism, Physical Science, Profession
Initial Mods internal database, skill subroutine (the skill subroutine mod’s Intelligence bonus is already included above), weapon mount

Stealth Drone

Source Starfinder Core Rulebook pg. 75
Sleek and covered in a light-absorbing alloy, the stealth drone prowls along the ground on multiple small legs, silenced wheels, an air cushion, or some similar form of propulsion. This drone specializes in stealth and infiltration and can vanish almost entirely from sight as long as it remains perfectly still.

Starting Statistics

Size Small
Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft.
AC EAC 10, KAC 12
Good Save Reflex
Poor Saves Fortitude, Will
Ability Scores Str 12, Dex 14, Con —, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6
Ability Increases Dexterity, Wisdom
Bonus Skill Unit Stealth
Initial Mods climbing claws, reactive camouflage, weapon mount

Stormscout Drone

Source Interstellar Species pg. 24
Compact and resilient, the stormscout drone was developed on Shimrinsara to survive deadly weather and even direct lightning strikes—defenses that make them popular across the galaxy for entering dangerous areas, collecting samples for scientific examination, and recording their surroundings.

Starting Statistics

Size Small
Speed 30 ft.
AC EAC 11, KAC 12
Good Save Reflex
Poor Saves Fortitude, Will
Ability Scores Str 12, Dex 12, Con —, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 6
Ability Increases Dexterity, Intelligence
Initial Mods camera, conductive plating, manipulator arms, resistance (electricity)

Tunnel Drone

Source Interstellar Species pg. 24
Reinforced to shrug off falling debris and rescue cave-in victims, the tunnel drone uses a combination of digging apparatuses, sensors, and heavy limbs to detect, access, and (if necessary) subdue subterranean objectives.

Starting Statistics

Size Medium
Speed 30 ft., burrow 15 ft.
AC EAC 10, KAC 13
Good Save Fortitude
Poor Saves Reflex, Will
Ability Scores Str 16, Dex 10, Con —, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6
Ability Increases Strength, Dexterity
Initial Mods enhanced senses, excavator, melee weapon arm