Drones

Drones in SAVAGEPUNK count as hardy extras. They have Attributes, Skills, Toughness, and the equivalent of Cyberware (it's not considered Cyberware for the drone, so there is no Strain). 

All Drones are controlled via the Vehicle Control Interface (or VCI). Each drone takes up Control Slots in the VCI equal to the number of slots listed in the drone's description. Switching between drones controlled by your VCI is a free action.

Depending on the Drone's locomotive function, the skill used to control the drone in Pilot mode is either Boating, Driving, or Piloting. The handling statistic from Vehicles is also used  for both drones and golemmechs (see Vehicles).

All drones share the following Special Abilities:

• No Core Skills: Drones do not receive Core Skills and all skills must be bought at d4.

• Construct: +2 to recover from being Shaken; immune to poison, disease, and suffocation; no additional damage from Called Shots

• Fearless: Drones are immune to Fear and Intimidation

• Firewall: 4

• Hardy: Drones do not suffer a Wound from being Shaken twice.

• Weakness (Electricity): Drones suffer +4 damage from electrical attacks

Golemmechs

Golemmechs are the scariest war machines in the solar system, and are personal combat vehicles for drone jockeys that are built using the rules for drones. Removing the drone brain and adding the cockpit makes the cost of a drone and a golemmech the same. 

Golemmechs possess the following special qualities:

• Chassis/Motive Type: Light Golemmechs are limited to the Very Large chassis and Heavy Golemmechs are limited to the Extra Large chassis. Both chassis are limited to Bipedal or Quad Legs only.

• Cockpit: Adds Cockpit for Drone Jockey. Jockey can try to Eject before golemmech is Incapacitated with Driving (-4, no penalty if On Hold). If they fail, they are stuck in the cockpit and must be cut out. 

• Control: Only capable of Pilot mode. Drone Jockeys control with VCI using the Driving skill.

• Golemmech: Suffers -1 per Size to Stealth checks. They move like a character, with listed Pace; Top speed is provided for Chase and logistics concerns. If a golemmech goes Out of Control then it falls, causing Xd6 damage to itself and anything it lands on, where X is the Size of the golemmech. Parry is 2 + half Driving.

• Hostile Environment Protection: While within the cockpit, provides the drone jockey with immunity to toxins and airborne poisons and contagions.

• Special Abilities: Possesses all of the Special Abilities and Weaknesses of drones, except for Fearless.

Operational Modes

Drones have two different operational modes: Basic and Pilot. Golemmechs are only used in Pilot mode.

Basic Mode

• Commands are sent to the drone without requiring the full attention of the jockey. 

• Drones are only able to follow basic commands (Go Here, Shoot at enemies, etc). 

• Drones act on the jockey's initiative and benefit from any Leadership edges the jockey has. 

• A drone in Basic Mode uses its own skills and attributes when making Trait rolls and has no Wild Die.

Pilot Mode

• In Pilot Mode, the jockey's full attention is on the drone. Due to the higher level of neural traffic, jockeys who attempt anything that is not in Pilot mode are at a -2 penalty.

• Jockeys may only have a single drone in pilot mode at a time

• Drone uses the jockey's Smarts and Spirit attribute while retaining its own Agility, Strength, and Vigor. 

• Skill rolls are made by using the higher skill of the jockey or drone, with the Wild die.

• Jockeys use Boating (for aquatic drones), Driving (for drones with legs, tracks, or wheels), and Piloting (for flying drones)

• The drone suffers any penalties (Wound, Fatigue) that the jockey is suffering.

• If the drone is Incapacitated, the jockey is automatically Shaken and must make a Vigor roll or suffer a wound from backlash.

Damage and Destruction

 A drone or golemmech that suffers enough damage may be Shaken. Due to the direct interface between a drone or golemmech in pilot mode, both share the same Shaken status. A drone in Basic Mode uses the drone's Spirit die and modifiers to become Unshaken. 

Incapacitation does not necessarily mean a drone or golemmech is destroyed. After combat ends, the operator makes a Vigor roll using the drone's Vigor. 

• Failure indicates the drone or golemmech is heavily damaged and beyond repair. 

• Success indicates the drone or golemmech is heavily damaged and requires repairs before it is functional again. This typically requires a shop, tools, spare parts worth 1/4 of what the drone or golemmech costs, 1d4 hours of work, and a successful Repair roll. 

• A raise indicates the drone or golemmech has suffered only minor damage and may be repaired in the field, requiring tools, ten minutes of work, and a successful Repair roll. 

Drone/Golemmech Construction Toolkit

Drones and Golemmechs are built like Extras in Savage Worlds. The size of the drone or golemmech you purchase determines how many points you receive to buy its Attributes and Skills, it's base cost, and how many Control Slots on your VCI it takes to operate. 

To build a drone or golemmech, take the size and multiply it by the motive system. Then add on any improvements. After that, assign attributes and skills following the rules for character creation in Savage Worlds. 

Pre-Made Drones

Pre-made Golemmechs