Put a robot in your dungeon

This is a translation of a post originally published in 2013.

Seriously put a robot in your life/dungeon. They are the chocolate bits on top of your vanilla ice cream. They always are food for thought, especially if they are old and defective. Who made them? What purpose did they serve in the first place? What happened to their creators? Did the same robots destroy them following the unavoidable law of chaos?

(De Glitched9700)

Anyhow, here are some examples:


Boombot
Fueltanks on tank treads. In ancient times they were automated refueling units, but now they are ambulant incendiary bombs. They are impredictable and full of a high-efficency carburant. Usually their movement will be erratic and any kind of rough treatment can detonate them, causing severe damage due to the explosion and deflagration to anyone nearby.

State:
1-2: doesn't work (4/6 chance it has already exploded).
3-4: it works, but it doesn't move.
5: it moves at random.
6: it moves towards the characters.

Stability
1-2: unstable, imminent explosion.
3-4: volatile, it will explode if manipulated or if it moves too much.
5: almost stable, it will explode if hit.
6: stable, no risk of accidental detonation.

Fuel in the tank
1: empty.
2-3: 25%.
4-5: half.
6: almost full.


Extermibot
A quadrupedal robot fitted with tanks full of noxious chemicals and a difusser. Its original task was ridding the tunnels of all kinds of vermin with a chemical solution that is corrosive to organic matter (vermin back then, you see, were tougher). Now it roams the tunnels attacking any organic thing that it can find, and that might very well include some adventurers.

State:
1: doesn't work (4/6 chance it has already exploded).
2-3: it works, but it doesn't move.
4: it moves at random.
5-6: it moves towards the characters.

Chemicals in the tank
1: empty.
2-3: 25%.
4-5: half.
6: almost full.


Zapbot
A humanoid robot fitted with an arm with a claw and another one with an electric inductor. Its original task was to recharge and maintain long lost electric circuitry. Its electric inductor can produce shocks of high voltage and it can be taken off and connected to its inner batteries to be used as weapon. Its powerful hydraulic crawl shouldn't be underestimated either.

State:
1: doesn't work.
2: it works, but doesn't move.
3: it moves randomly.
4: it moves randomly, electrocutes anything that ends up in its way.
5: it moves towards the players, but doesn't attack.
6: it moves towards the players and attacks.

Battery charge:
1: empty.
2-3: 25%.
4-5: half.
6: almost full.


Curebot
A white box fitted with four spider-like legs, designed as a portable automated first aid kit. It shoots a revitalizing ray that augments the natural healing capacity of those it irradiates. It is willing to do it for anyone that comes near it, monster or human. However, there is a chance that the ray mulfunctions and it destabilizes the irradiated organism, causing a poisonous effect.

State
1: it doesn't work.
2-3: it works, but doesn't move.
4-5: it moves randomly.
6: it moves towards the players.

Battery charge
1: empty.
2-3: 25%.
4-5: half.
6: almost full.


Neurobots
A bipedal robot, fitted with powerful arms to perform hard labor, construction, etc. Given that it is really versatile, it needs someone to control it, so it will try to stablish a telepathic link with any nearby intelligent creature. With a bit of training it is able to control the neurobot seamlessly, but the connection is exhausting and it can't go for more than twenty minutes. As it wasn't designed for minds other than the robot's creators, the connection has 1/6 chance of producing brain damage and madness.

State:
1: it doesn't work.
2-3: it works, but doesn't move.
4-5: it works, but takes orders erraticly.
6: it works perfectly.

Chryobot
A humanoid robot of bulging torso. It was made to preserve precious items in its inner compartiment, and for that purpose it was provided with a freezing system and the ability to hermetically isolate its content. Its task is only to protect its contents, so it will stay motionless while it considers that an area is safe, but it will try to leave and look for a new one if necessary. It can also attack potential looters with its powerful arms and even (when in trouble) throw some of the freezing substance of its tanks against an enemy. Its compartiment is very hard to open if the stipulated time has not passed or the password is not known.

State:
1: it doesn't work.
2: it works.
2-4: it moves randomly.
5-6: it works perfectly, acting as described above.

Contents (keep rolling until you get a repeated result):
1-2: treasure.
3: technology.
4: a message.
5: food and water.
6: one of its creators, frozen. A humanoid no larger than a yorkshire terrier.


Desintebot
A bipedal battle robot, created to guard places, people and other important elements. It is fitted with a desintegrating ray that turns organic matter into dust and boling ooze. They were programmed to guard a spot or patrol a small area, so it will usually not chase intruders, but it will sound a noisy alarm.

State:
1. it doesn't work.
2. it works, but doesn't move.
3-4. it moves and attacks at random.
5-6. it keeps guarding.

Thanks for reading and please give a chance to our metalic friends. Valmar Cerenor!