Craft Stats: Robo Sentry Tower

Posted on by Ron McClung

Robotic Sentry Tower (Standard)

This automated guard tower is designed for defense and surveillance, equipped with a heavy weapon for engaging threats. It operates autonomously or under central command.

Attributes: Agility: -; Smarts: d8 (Processor/AI); Spirit: d6 (Resilient); Strength: d10 (Heavy construction); Vigor: d10 (Durability)

Skills: Notice: d8; Shooting: d8

Pace: — (Immobile) Parry: 2 (Cannot Parry) Toughness: 10 (3) Size: 4 (Large structure)

Special Abilities:

  • Construct: As a construct, the Robotic Sentry Tower is immune to disease, poison, and environmental effects. It doesn’t breathe, eat, or sleep. It cannot be Shaken, and takes half damage from Called Shots.
  • Armor: +3 (Heavy plating)
  • Heavy Weapon Mount: Equipped with a built-in heavy weapon.
  • Integrated Optics: Provides low-light and thermal vision (ignored by Notice).
  • Immobile: The tower cannot move from its position.
  • Targeting System: Ignores 2 points of cover when making ranged attacks.
  • Vulnerable to Sabotage (Optional Rule): A character with appropriate skills (e.g., Hacking, Repair) can attempt to disable or reprogram the tower. This might require an action and a Smarts roll at -2 or -4, depending on the complexity of the system and the GM’s discretion. A Critical Failure might alert the tower or its controlling entity.

Weapons:

  • Heavy Anti-Aircraft Cannon (top): Range 50/100/200, Damage 2d10, RoF 4, AP 4.
  • Medium Gatling Machine Gun (hidden): Range 30/60/120, Damage 2d8+1 (I), RoF 3, AP 2.
  • Medium Laser Cannons: Range 150/300/600, Damage 3d10 (III), RoF 3, AP 20.

Robotic Sentry Tower (Heavy/Advanced)

This version is more robust and perhaps equipped with more advanced targeting and heavier firepower, perhaps from a larger or more specialized corporation.

Attributes: Agility: -; Smarts: d10 (Advanced Processor/AI); Spirit: d8 (Exceptional Resilience); Strength: d12 (Very heavy construction); Vigor: d12 (Extreme Durability)

Skills: Notice: d10; Shooting: d10 (Heavy Weapon)

Pace: — (Immobile) Parry: 2 (Cannot Parry) Toughness: 12 (4) Size: 4 (Large structure)

Special Abilities:

  • Construct: As a construct, the Robotic Sentry Tower is immune to disease, poison, and environmental effects. It doesn’t breathe, eat, or sleep. It cannot be Shaken, and takes half damage from Called Shots.
  • Armor: +4 (Very heavy plating)
  • Heavy Weapon Mount: Equipped with a built-in heavy weapon.
  • Integrated Optics: Provides low-light, thermal, and potentially x-ray vision (ignored by Notice).
  • Immobile: The tower cannot move from its position.
  • Advanced Targeting System: Ignores 4 points of cover when making ranged attacks.
  • Hardened Systems: Rolls Vigor to resist attempts to disable or reprogram it (e.g., from Hacking or Repair rolls targeting its systems). The Vigor roll is opposed by the attacker’s skill roll.
  • Warning System: Can emit a piercing alarm, potentially alerting other security forces or triggering further defenses.

Weapons:

  • Heavy Anti-Aircraft Cannon (top): Range 50/100/200, Damage 2d10 (II), RoF 4, AP 4.
  • Medium Gatling Machine Gun (hidden): Range 30/60/120, Damage 2d8+1 (I), RoF 3, AP 2.
  • Missile Rack (x2, 2 missiles each): Range 100/200/400, Damage 6d6 (III), RoF 3, AP 16.

General Notes for GMs:

  • Environmental Integration: These towers are likely integrated into a larger security network. Consider what happens if they detect intruders (e.g., silent alarms, calling reinforcements).
  • Weak Points: While constructs are tough, consider if there are specific weak points on the tower (e.g., exposed power conduits, optic sensors) that could be targeted with Called Shots (which constructs take half damage from normally, but a specific weakness could override this partially or fully).
  • Power Source: What powers the tower? Is it an internal battery, a power grid connection, or something else? Destroying its power source could be an alternative way to disable it.
  • Deployment: Are these towers part of a larger complex, or are they isolated? How many are there in a given area?
  • Ammunition: Does the weapon have limited ammunition, or is it assumed to have a very large supply or energy cell? For most combat encounters, assuming unlimited is fine unless the encounter is designed around resource depletion.
  • Narrative Use: These towers are excellent obstacles in infiltration missions, provide chokepoints, or act as an active deterrent in dangerous zones.