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  1. - Top - End - #1
    Pixie in the Playground
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    Jul 2014

    Default Star Wars Saga Heavy Weapons Droid Design

    Hey guys, I am going to be playing in my first Star Wars Saga Edition campaign here soon, and I plan on playing a 4th degree droid, specializing in the use of heavy weapons. I'm really not sure which direction is best to go, so I was wondering if you gurus may have some insight. The books my GM are allowing are: Core (obviously), Clone Wars guide, Force Unleashed, KOTOR, Scavenger's Guide, Scum and Villainy, and Starships of the Galaxy. Here's my character concept thus far. I am very new to this system, and the books are very scattered as far as information goes, so bear with me!

    Custom 4th degree droid
    Soldier 2 at this point
    Attributes (after racial bonuses)
    STR 13
    DEX 19
    INT 13
    WIS 12
    CHA 10

    Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Soldier automatic feats.
    Talents - I'm really not sure here. I love the droid-only talents, and I am strongly considering Targeting Package from Force Unleashed.
    Trained Skills: Initiative, Knowledge (Tactics), Mechanics, and Use Computer

    The main issue/topic of self-discussion is repairing. I'm a little bit confused on the process to repair a droid, and I will be doing self repairs. Droidcraft seems to be essential for me here, as well as Skill Focus (Mechanics).
    To start, I plan on using the Blastech DLT 20-A from the Clone Wars book, but I'd much rather get an autofire only weapon, so I can brace it. Any thoughts on a build like this?

  2. - Top - End - #2
    Dwarf in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

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    Default Re: Star Wars Saga Heavy Weapons Droid Design

    I have a Clone Trooper who is pretty much built around using a repeating blaster and hurting any npc. Heavy weapons are this guys schtick. YOu may be able to make use of some of it.

    Feats:
    Spoiler
    Show

    Autofire Assault, LEG 34: Target an area with autofire that was autofired last turn, penalty is -2 (-1 if braced), +1 die of damage if successful.

    Burst Fire, CORE 82: Autofire vs single target. -5 Atk (-2 Atk is braced) +2 dice of damage.

    Improved Damage Threshold, CORE 86: Damage Threshold increases by 5.

    Point-blank Shot, CORE 87: +1 Atk/Dmg in Point-blank range.

    Tech Specialist, SotG 21:

    Weapon Focus, CORE 89: +1 Atk (Heavy Weapons)


    Talents:
    Spoiler
    Show

    Armored Defense, CORE 52: Reflex Defense = Heroic Level or Armor Bonus.

    Autofire Assault, GaW 22: Brace a weapon that is not Autofire only.

    Controlled Burst, CORE 212: Autofire penalty is -2 (no penalty if braced).

    Devastating Attack, CORE 53: Target Damage Threshold is 5 lower.

    Improved Armored Defense, CORE 52: Reflex Defense = Heroic Level + 1/2 Armor Bonus.

    Repairs on the Fly, CLONE 45: Mechanics (Repair) is Standard action, not full.


    There may be better alternatives, but I wanted this guy to be a beat stick with his repeating blaster, and I think I've accomplished just that. I took Autofire Assault from GaW just in case my GM took away my repeating blaster, so I can still get some mileage out of my other feats and talents even with just a pistol. Now, I only see two things here you probably won't be able to use, and that's Autofire Assault, both the Feat and the Talent.

    Since you have access to S&V, see if you can pick up a Subrepeating blaster - it's essentially an UZI. It's autofire only as well, though you could put a sniper switch on it so you can use it as a single shot as well.

    I want to note though, that just like surgery performed on yourself, you take -5 for repairing yourself as a droid. So if you take SF: Mechanics, that +5 negates the -5 and you are using just your flat skill number.

    All that aside, I think I'll let the other experts weigh in. They probably know way more tricks and tips than I do.

  3. - Top - End - #3
    Pixie in the Playground
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    Jul 2014

    Default Re: Star Wars Saga Heavy Weapons Droid Design

    Awesome, thanks for that! I'm definitely planning on going the Burst Fire route, especially since I can use that with vehicle/starship autofire weapons as well. Will be taking Elite Trooper at level 9 (Can't take it at 8 because of 3/4 BAB of Independent droid, which I will take at level 4), and Controlled Burst is an amazing talent there!

    Putting a sniper switch on the subrepeating blaster could be cool too, I'm thinking of having one concealed in my droid's arm. I won't be using brace to help with autofire penalties anyway, so taking it off of autofire-only could work. Instead of bracing, I will be using Targeting Package from Force Unleashed. 2 swifts to increase atk and dmg by 2 while in point blank range, which does stack with point blank shot! Much more versatile that way, methinks.

    On the note of repairing, I may take tech specialist just so I can modify my tool kit to give an extra +1 on mechanics. That, along with +2 int I could give myself and skill focus, which I plan on taking at level 6 or 8, I would be at 5 (trained)+4(half of level)+3(INT, 1 point in at level 4, +2 from tech specialist, makes that 16) +5 (focus) and +1 with modified took kit. That'd put me at +18 at level 8, +13 when repairing myself. I'm not sure if that will be enough, but hopefully I'll have an ally or two that's willing to aid me if necessary!

  4. - Top - End - #4
    Titan in the Playground
     
    PaladinGuy

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    Default Re: Star Wars Saga Heavy Weapons Droid Design

    I'd actually ignore the subrepeating blaster as a main weapon. The blaster carbine does more damage and is only marginally more expensive, and adding a sniper switch to a subrepeater only makes it a more expensive but less powerful carbine unless you invest heavily in Pistols (meanwhile, most Pistol optimization can be applied to Rifles as well, including the Gunslinger damage bonus thanks to the Old Faithful talent). For 50 credits, you can even ignore the issue of a bigger weapon being 2-handed, since you can buy a stabilized tool mount for a Medium droid for that much.

    I would run with a blaster rifle or DLT-30A until you can get a power generator and a heavy repeater. You'll need more Strength for that, but you need to bump your Strength up for Burst Fire anyway.

  5. - Top - End - #5
    Dwarf in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

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    Default Re: Star Wars Saga Heavy Weapons Droid Design

    Certainly there is no need for the subrepeating blaster, but you could incorporate it into your arm, kind of similar to the super battle droid. Makes a nice backup as well.

  6. - Top - End - #6
    Titan in the Playground
     
    PaladinGuy

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    Default Re: Star Wars Saga Heavy Weapons Droid Design

    Quote Originally Posted by Sparx MacGyver View Post
    Certainly there is no need for the subrepeating blaster, but you could incorporate it into your arm, kind of similar to the super battle droid. Makes a nice backup as well.
    The subrepeater is also the same size as a carbine. Literally the only use for it is as an automatic pistol for those that don't have Rifle proficiency (i.e. Scoundrels and Nobles), or else as a weapon to let a Small character use braced autofire... which isn't that great, and a single talent can let you brace selective fire weapons, again making the subrepeater inferior to a carbine.

  7. - Top - End - #7
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    DwarfBarbarianGuy

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    Default Re: Star Wars Saga Heavy Weapons Droid Design

    The subreapeater is not even for people who lack WP (Rifles), since in order to brace it, you have to open the folding stock, which makes it require Rifle proficiency to use. And if you want unbraced autofire, just buy a blaster rifle or carbine which are more powerful and use them with the stock folded.

    As far as I can determine, the only use of a subrepeater is when a character heavily invested in Pistols needs to make braced autofire attacks. Which is a pair of sets with no overlap IME.
    I am not crazy! I prefer "reality impaired".

  8. - Top - End - #8
    Pixie in the Playground
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    Default Re: Star Wars Saga Heavy Weapons Droid Design

    Alright, definitely not going to use subrepeating blaster for my main weapon. I really like the DLT-20A for a starting weapon, but eventually will use a light repeating blaster+power generator, with autofire and burst fire as my main tactics. Would there be any reason why I wouldn't be able to miniaturize a power generator? As it stands, it wouldn't be able to fit into my internal storage, but that seems like a cool idea to me. Are there any other weapons that can be powered by a generator? I know you can charge power packs with one, but it takes a long time to do so, so that wouldn't be very efficient. I will be blowing through ammunition with autofire and burst fire.

    Also, would it be more viable to look into second winds as my main healing, or should I use feats that let me repair more quickly/efficiently?

  9. - Top - End - #9
    Titan in the Playground
     
    PaladinGuy

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    Default Re: Star Wars Saga Heavy Weapons Droid Design

    It should be a valid target for the Miniaturization upgrade from Scum & Villainy, as it is a device.

    As for healing, that's fairly slow for Saga in general. On the other hand, it's easy to ramp your defenses up so high that you don't need much downtime for healing because nothing is reliably hitting you, and droids get access to even better armor than meatbags do.

  10. - Top - End - #10
    Troll in the Playground
     
    NEO|Phyte's Avatar

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    Default Re: Star Wars Saga Heavy Weapons Droid Design

    Heavy weapon droid, eh? Wonder if I can still dig up my plans for a hilariously overweaponed one.

    Aha, here it is. I have no clue if the scavenger's guide for droids does custom builds differently, this was designed with the rules in the core book.

    Spoiler:
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    free Heuristic processor (5)

    free Walking locomotion
    +360 Climbing claws
    +360 Extra legs
    +360 Magnetic feet

    free Hand appendage x2 (10)
    100 Stabilized tool appendage x2 (20)

    50 Stabilized tool appendage (10)
    +80 Multifunction apparatus
    +130 Concealed

    50 Vocabulator (0.5)

    50 Locked access

    200 Improved sensor package (2.5)
    150 Darkvision (1.5)

    What that gets you is a multilegged frame for as much carrying capacity as possible, and room for five braceable guns (multifunction appendage can have up to three guns, but only one can be active at a time) while still having a pair of normal hands for regular interactions. I envision it as a generally crab-shaped beast with its top shell popping open for the big guns to come out of.

    Assuming one has the budget, what I'd load it up with is a Rotary Blaster Cannon (don't recall which book it's from, it's autofire only, gives an additional -5 if you don't brace it, but its autofire hits a 2x4 area instead of just 2x2), Missile Launcher (if you have money to burn, use the scum and villiany item modification rules to make thermal detonator missile payloads, 2250 credits a shot, but what a shot it is, 12d6 damage over a four square radius), Then a grenade launcher and a Repeating Blaster Carbine (don't recall what book, it's the largest autofire-only gun with a stun setting, and the only non-Heavy weapon you carry) for the 'claws'.

    Probably also want a shield generator and stuff, obviously. Also it is a real bear trying to fit it all on if encumbrance is being meaningfully tracked, lots of miniaturization needs done in such a case, which means even more cash.
    Man this thing was full of outdated stuff.
    Swoop Falcon
    I make(made?) avatars! Last updated 12-23-2008. Requests not unwelcome. Last request 01-12-2010.
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  11. - Top - End - #11
    Troll in the Playground
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    Protecting my Horde (yes, I mean that kind)

    Default Re: Star Wars Saga Heavy Weapons Droid Design

    [QUOTE=NEO|Phyte;18855493What that gets you is a multilegged frame for as much carrying capacity as possible, and room for five braceable guns (multifunction appendage can have up to three guns, but only one can be active at a time) while still having a pair of normal hands for regular interactions. I envision it as a generally crab-shaped beast with its top shell popping open for the big guns to come out of.[/QUOTE]

    So essentially a better droideika?

  12. - Top - End - #12
    Troll in the Playground
     
    NEO|Phyte's Avatar

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    Default Re: Star Wars Saga Heavy Weapons Droid Design

    Quote Originally Posted by Beleriphon View Post
    So essentially a better droideika?
    Insomuch as both are droids set up for dakka, yes. In my mind, I envisioned my crabby droid as being designed as a sort of elite anchor for a squad, with power pack rechargers, spare ammo, that one modification where you can extend your droid's shield over an adjacent square, treat injury, and such.
    Man this thing was full of outdated stuff.
    Swoop Falcon
    I make(made?) avatars! Last updated 12-23-2008. Requests not unwelcome. Last request 01-12-2010.
    Avatar by me.

  13. - Top - End - #13
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    Bowerbird's Avatar

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    Default Re: Star Wars Saga Heavy Weapons Droid Design

    Quote Originally Posted by NEO|Phyte View Post
    Insomuch as both are droids set up for dakka, yes. In my mind, I envisioned my crabby droid as being designed as a sort of elite anchor for a squad, with power pack rechargers, spare ammo, that one modification where you can extend your droid's shield over an adjacent square, treat injury, and such.
    A bit like this?

    Quote Originally Posted by EG6-Si
    Gonk.
    Really wish I'd gotten the chance to play this one...
    Quote Originally Posted by Who
    Loving that fluff, loving it so much. If that fluff was a person I'd marry it.

  14. - Top - End - #14
    Pixie in the Playground
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    Default Re: Star Wars Saga Heavy Weapons Droid Design

    So I am a bit confused about droid self-reprogramming, as far as the feats go. Core talks about having to either have the feat or purchase the proper feat package (1,000 credits). Is this basically a reprogramming tax, per se?
    Edit: Re-read the section, the package makes sense. The programmer is the one who has to have the skill/feat/talent or the respective package. Self programming would require the package, since I obviously don't have the feat I am trying to get.

    Now I just need 2,000 more credits to get the feat packages to replace pistol and simple weapon proficiencies with heavy weapon proficiency and burst fire :D
    Last edited by Azurhalo; 2015-03-06 at 11:19 AM.

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