Squire-Pattern Armory Robot

The Squire-Pattern (and its functionally identical variant, the Shieldmaiden-Pattern robot, which together are sometimes refered to as “S-models”) is perhaps the most recognizable of all ARC robotic designs, as it frequently makes an appearance whenever a noble does. The Squire-Pattern robot resembles a tall humanoid with slender arms and legs and a robust, thick torso; its sleek features have a fetching, elegant design to them which creates the impression of a butler’s uniform. The Shieldmaiden-Pattern robot has similarly slender arms and legs, but its torso is longer and has a feminine cast to it with slightly exaggerated curves. Both are obviously robots, with carefully sculpted bodies. Their pleasant appearance grants them off-the-shelf Attractiveness.

The designers of the S-model robot pattern intended them as the personal assistants to nobility. Their large torsos contain more than just the robot’s power supply and structure: it can open up to reveal a storage space customized for armor and weaponry (up to 44 lbs of equipment), and two small arms meant primarily to help remove and disassemble armor, or to reassemble it and help the wearer don it. Most hard armor and vacc suits take 30 seconds to don or doff; any assistant can reduce this to 8 seconds to don and 15 seconds to doff; success at an Armoury (Personal Armor) or Vacc Suit skill (for armor or vaccsuits respectively) halve these times; S-Models further reduce this by 4/5s, so they can help someone put armor on in 6 seconds (3 with a successful roll) and remove it in 12 seconds (6 with a successful roll).

While the intent is to allow S-models to carry a character’s armor, many nobles use them as walking closets, carrying a few changes of clothing within them. S-models come pre-programmed with a sense of fashion and a deep appreciation of the differences between clothes, but their programming hasn’t been updated since before the fall of the Galactic Federation, making their fashion sense at least 50 years out of date. While some traditionalists appreciate this fashion (and it is coming back into fashion in certain circles), most people who let their robot dress them earn a -1 reaction modifier for looking hopelessly out of date. Some owners insist on updating their robot’s fashion sense, but most just ignore their robot’s insistence that their clothing is much too revealing to be proper, or wouldn’t they like more (and more and more) lace with their clothing?

S-models often accompany their owners into battle. Such robots often come with some degree of combat upgrades. Many also double as sparring partners, and come equipped with just enough force swordsmanship knowledge to provide an interesting challenge to a novice swordsman, as well as acting as intriguing opponents in battle.

Squires and Shieldmaidens can come equipped with any personality package, and tend to have the greatest variety among them when it comes to personality. Many people associate Squires with the Raconteur personality package, and Shieldmaidens with Prattlers, but Gallant and Prim are equally popular, and some even get Tender programming.

ARC Squire-Pattern Robot Template

125 points
Cost: $75,000
Weight: 215 lbs
Power Requirement: 2D/week

Attributes: ST 14* [0]; DX 10 [0]; IQ 10 [0]; HT 11* [0].

Secondary Traits: Dmg 1d/2d; BL 39 lbs; HP 19* [0]; Basic Speed 5.25 [0]; Basic Move 6* [0]; Will 10 [0]; Per 10 [0]; FP NA [0]; SM +0 [0]
Advantages: ARC Squire-Pattern Chassis [150]; Efficient Armourer [1]; Single Minded [5].

Disadvantages: Fashion Disaster (Outdated Fashion) [-1]; Psi-Wars Volitional AI [-27]; Standard ARC Safeguard Programming [-41]; Choose one ARC Personality package [0]

Skills: Armoury (Personal Armor) (A) IQ+2 [8]-12; Computer Operations (E) IQ [1]-10; Connoisseur (Armour) (A) IQ [2]-10; Connoisseur (Fashion) (A) IQ [2]-10; Housekeeping (E) IQ+2 [4]-12; Law (Alliance Criminal) (H) IQ-2 [1]-8; Savior-Faire (Servant) (E) IQ+4 [12]-14; Vacc-Suit (A) DX+2 [8]-12.

Squire Traits

ARC Squire-Pattern Robotic Chassis

150 points

Attribute Modifiers: ST +4 [20]; HT +1 [10];

Secondary Traits: HP +5 [10]; Basic Move 6 [5]

Advantages: Absolute Direction [5]; Ambidexterity [5]; Appearance (Attractive) [4]; Doesn’t Breathe [20]; DR 50 (Cannot Wear Armor -40%) [30]*; Extra Arms (2; Nuisance Effect: No frontal torso DR while active -10%; Switchable +10%; Short; -50%; Weak ST 3 -50%) [4]; Machine [25]; Payload 13 (51 lbs) [11]; Protected Senses (Hearing, Vision) [10]; Reduced Consumption 3 [6]; Telecommunication (Comm System; 100 mile range, +30%; Burst +30%; Secure +20%) [18].

Perks: Accessories (Cleaning Equipment, Personal Computer) [2], Sanitized Metabolism [1]

Disadvantages: Affected by Magnetic Fields [-1]; Electrical [-20]; Maintenance(one person, monthly) [-2]; No Sense of Smell/Taste [-5]; Restricted Diet (Very Common, power cells [-10];

Squire-Pattern Upgrades

Diamondoid Chassis Upgrade

17 points
Chassis Upgrade
Cost: $25,000

This is less of a hardware upgrade than a full chassis switch. Most customers will order the chassis upgrade up-front; those who wish to upgrade later need to move all the robot’s additional components, such as their brain and any additional upgrades, into the new chassis. The upgrade time takes one week, rather than 8 hours.
The SA (or “Armored Squire”) Pattern involves a diamondoid, rather than carbide chassis. This improves DR to 80, and the new chassis has much finer detail and refined aesthetics, making it a coveted upgrade among nobles who either wish to use their robot in battle, or who want to look their finest at galas.
Diamondoid does not respond to magnetic fields, removing the magnetic vulnerability from the robot.

Advantages: Replace Appearance (Attractive) with Appearance (Beautiful, Off-the-Shelf -50% [6] for +2 points; replace DR 50 (Cannot Wear Armor -40%) [30] with DR 40 (Cannot Wear Armor -40%) [24] + DR 40 (Can’t wear Armor -40%; Does not apply to Crushing -10%) [20] for 14 points; Remove “Affected by Magnetic Fields” for 1 point.

The Fashion Update

8 points
Software Upgrade
Cost: $4,000

The fashion software integral to most Squires dates from before the fall of the Federation and thus tends towards a hopelessly outdated, as well as shockingly modest and overwrought to modern eyes. While conservatives tend to nod approvingly at the designs, most hip young aristocrats want an updated fashion look. This upgrades integrates the latest fashions into the robot’s neural network, and grants access to a database of ideas and possibilities so that it maintains its fashion sense into the near future, as well as some additional protocols that lets it predict fashion trends.

ARC offers this upgrade to previously build Squires, and many (but not all! Some foundries still have the outdated version) new Squires come with it pre-installed. Note that as a Software Upgrade, some Squires naturally “learn” this on their own, and do not need to pay the full dollar price for the upgrade.

Advantages: Replace Fashion Disaster (Outdated Fashion) with Fashion Sense [5] for +6 points;

Skills: Improve Connoissuer Fashion to (A) IQ+1 [4]-11 for 2 points.

Force Sword Mentor Programming

28 points
Hardware Upgrade
Cost: $15,000

Many ARC customers use their Squire-model robots as sparring partners. These robots learn to use the Force Sword, and come preprogrammed with all the basic force sword techniques known from the four Maradonian schools of force sword combat. The robot may install style familiarity with a single Maradonian style, and a single, 5-point move from that style. This takes 6 seconds to change. In addition, the robot has rudimentary understanding in force sword combat, and in instructing others in the style it is currently programmed in.

The resulting instruction, out of the box, tends to be lackluster. The robot can engage in the basics of combat and it’s facility with a technique often catches its opponents off-guard, but they tend to be effectively useless against skilled opponents. Some Squires acquire combat upgrades and improve their natural DX, and then expand on their force sword skill; such “experienced” squires tend to be highly coveted, but can result in a robot that the owner is loathe to prune back, lest it lose all of it’s hard-won skill. As a result, most “elite” squires tend to be quirky, to say the least, and still tend to be held back by their safety protocols from engaging their opponent’s lethally.

Advantages: Computer-Brain (1 slot, 6 points, Force Sword Martial Arts programs only -40%) [18]
Skills: Teaching (A) IQ [2]-10; Force Sword (A) DX+2 [8]-12.

The Master Chef Upgrade

5 points
Hardware Upgrade
Cost: $2000

The primary intent behind the Squire-pattern robot is as armourer, but their storage and spare arms make them useful domestic servants. Many ARC customers already use them as walking wardrobes, but ARC has begun offering the Master Chef upgrade for those who want to use them as cooks. This adds refrigeration to their internal payload space, and replaces the cleaning equipment with minimal cooking equipment, and installs some cooking software into the robot’s brain. The tools provided apply a -2 to the cooking skill if they’re all that’s available to the robot; the robot can use them to prepare a nice meal while “on the road,” but it will not be a fine, gourmet treat.

Advantages: Replace Accessory (Cleaning Equipment) [1] with Accessory (Cooking Equipment) [1] for 0 points; update Payload 11 (44 lbs) [11] to Payload 13 (44 lbs; Climate Controlled +5%) [14] for 1 point.

Skills: Cooking (E) IQ+2 [4]-12;
