How many robots do you like in your fantasy settings?
For all its flaws, I like the idea of Pathfinder's mutagenic-fluid powered robots.
Steampunk bots like steel golems and trapsetting robots sounds awesome too! Probably some evil dwarven smith making these things to guard treasure and kill intruders.
MANY! Many robots/creations powered by magic, spirits, technology, etc.
Fantasy covers a very wide range of settings. In many of them, robots are likely just magical creations (usually rare monsters), but in others they can fit in. If you're just going for a setting-neutral product, I'd at least throw in some guidance to what effects having commonplace robots would have on a fantasy setting. I can imagine that having robot PCs/henchmen (henchbots?) in Greyhawk or Forgotten Realms would be different from having them in Dark Sun.
I want all of the robots!
8)
Just brainstorming, but an empire of robots would make an interesting replacement for an Evil Overlord as the main threat of a campaign. They could be an implacable threat, without being explicitly evil. And the contrast with fantasy tropes would make for a stark divide.
Quote from: Pat on November 12, 2021, 06:29:34 AM
Just brainstorming, but an empire of robots would make an interesting replacement for an Evil Overlord as the main threat of a campaign. They could be an implacable threat, without being explicitly evil. And the contrast with fantasy tropes would make for a stark divide.
So, like trying to hold the line against a Modron march?
Chicks dig giant robots.
Gargantuan fantasy mecha powered by giant hamsters running in wheels, and piloted by insane gnomes.
I want to make a joke about A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court, but it's just not coming together. :-[
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/af5cda41aaa2a508c9b78ecff751fff6/030a2e90dad62759-d9/s540x810/7cf4fb071201110a1ae31c9fbdbf5b9b6b06896f.png)
I'm into Talislanta.
Robots + Fantasy = Hell's yes.
Quote from: HappyDaze on November 12, 2021, 08:07:29 AM
Quote from: Pat on November 12, 2021, 06:29:34 AM
Just brainstorming, but an empire of robots would make an interesting replacement for an Evil Overlord as the main threat of a campaign. They could be an implacable threat, without being explicitly evil. And the contrast with fantasy tropes would make for a stark divide.
So, like trying to hold the line against a Modron march?
Less polyhedral.
Plus, have you seen the Modrons from 1e's MM2? They were clearly organic, and became more humanoid as they passed up the ranks. Which I just realized is the opposite of transhumanism. Modorons are transrobotists.
Quote from: Pat on November 12, 2021, 04:16:18 PM
Quote from: HappyDaze on November 12, 2021, 08:07:29 AM
Quote from: Pat on November 12, 2021, 06:29:34 AM
Just brainstorming, but an empire of robots would make an interesting replacement for an Evil Overlord as the main threat of a campaign. They could be an implacable threat, without being explicitly evil. And the contrast with fantasy tropes would make for a stark divide.
So, like trying to hold the line against a Modron march?
Less polyhedral.
Plus, have you seen the Modrons from 1e's MM2? They were clearly organic, and became more humanoid as they passed up the ranks. Which I just realized is the opposite of transhumanism. Modorons are transrobotists.
By 3e, they were mecha. I don't recall 2e.
Quote from: psiconauta_retro on November 11, 2021, 11:06:49 PM
MANY! Many robots/creations powered by magic, spirits, technology, etc.
Then you sir might like to purchase my Frantabulous Robot Generator (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/234126/RPGPundit-Presents-19-Frantabulous-Gonzo-Robot-Generator)!
D&D and fantasy in general has had sci-fi elements since pretty much the get-go.
Robots pop up in Expedition to the Barrier peaks and any given iron golem could be a robot of some sort depending on the players and DM.
This isnt even getting into clockwork contraptions that pop up as well.
Red Steel for 2e D&D introduced clockwork PCs. Then theres the Complete Book of Shiar for 2e that had rules on creating clockwork creatures. And well before that there were things like the Iron Cobra. Or you could take things that seem magical and rework them into some sort of tech.
The big question as always is "Do they fit a given campaign or setting?" and that of course will vary hugely from one to the next.
The frequency and scope of use can be a big factor. A single golem can be a game changer for PCs or foes. But say mechanical people with stats close to human and demi-human levels can fit in. And really it is not that big a stretch to have a PC that uses one of the standard races as its base. But is really some sort of mechanical creation.
And that can be applied to about anything. Halflings night fit one campaign, but not another. Or even a setting where there are not humans. Or there are no demi humans. Or even one where there are no monsters at all. Just people and animals.
In the World of the Last Sun, just about anything can be found somewhere. It even has Keith Richards!
The common definition of robot only works in fantasy if you are doing a gonzo kitchen sink setting.
To make robots (as in automatons or constructs) work in a fantasy setting, then they must be an integral part of the background. The warforged almost accomplish this in Ebberon. The only setting that does fully accomplish this well, is Iron Kingdoms with their steampunk style steamjacks and warjacks.
Otherwise having robots in a fantasy setting just jerks the players out of their suspension of disbelief in the game.
The coolest fantasy robot of all time: The Minaton
(https://mysideofthelaundryroom.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/eye-of-tiger-09.jpg)
(https://mysideofthelaundryroom.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/minotaur8.jpg)
Quote from: jeff37923 on November 15, 2021, 04:11:38 AM
The common definition of robot only works in fantasy if you are doing a gonzo kitchen sink setting.
To make robots (as in automatons or constructs) work in a fantasy setting, then they must be an integral part of the background. The warforged almost accomplish this in Ebberon. The only setting that does fully accomplish this well, is Iron Kingdoms with their steampunk style steamjacks and warjacks.
Otherwise having robots in a fantasy setting just jerks the players out of their suspension of disbelief in the game.
Shadow of the Demon Lord has clockwork automatons that fitting well enough.
QuoteOtherwise having robots in a fantasy setting just jerks the players out of their suspension of disbelief in the game.
Just as planned.
So this one is not already included in the Last Sun compilation?
I'll just quote Bender from Futurama and let you figure out how many is too many:
"Hey sexy mama, wanna kill all humans?"
Quote from: Ratman_tf on November 12, 2021, 09:39:39 AM
I want to make a joke about A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court, but it's just not coming together. :-[
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/af5cda41aaa2a508c9b78ecff751fff6/030a2e90dad62759-d9/s540x810/7cf4fb071201110a1ae31c9fbdbf5b9b6b06896f.png)
That's some pretty buff armor for the 5th century there, Arthur. Also, what happen to your beard?
That's the Robert Goulet version of Arthur.
Quote from: Plotinus on November 15, 2021, 10:50:46 AM
So this one is not already included in the Last Sun compilation?
World of the Last Sun has stats for some robots, but it does not have this set of generators for robots.
Plenty of Robots! Of course I prefer more weird science fantasy than straight fantasy.
Quote from: Omega on November 12, 2021, 09:59:26 PM
D&D and fantasy in general has had sci-fi elements since pretty much the get-go.
...
Blackmoor had Sci-Fi stuff early on. Early D&D had a lot of 'weird fantasy' influences.
I'm not outright against such things in a fantasy campaign but...
Quote from: jeff37923 on November 15, 2021, 04:11:38 AM
The common definition of robot only works in fantasy if you are doing a gonzo kitchen sink setting.
..
My hat of gonzo kitchen sink fantasy
* no know limit.
For me Sci-fi elements need to be handled with a really deft and subtle hand.
Something like the crashed spaceship in Blackmoor, which is confined to that location, is really the only way I could do it.
It gives a unique flavor to that location - but the rest of the world is not out of a Palladium games sourcebook.
That is about my limit.
I know lots of people love gonzo kitchen sink games, but I'm not one of them.
* Yes that includes the forgotten realms, eberron, etc: In fact D&D has been gonzo kitchen sink since the beginning...
Quote from: Svenhelgrim on November 12, 2021, 09:32:02 AM
Gargantuan fantasy mecha powered by giant hamsters running in wheels, and piloted by insane gnomes.
I love this idea!
Quote from: Tait Ransom on November 17, 2021, 08:26:42 PM
Quote from: Svenhelgrim on November 12, 2021, 09:32:02 AM
Gargantuan fantasy mecha powered by giant hamsters running in wheels, and piloted by insane gnomes.
I love this idea!
So do the Skaven of Clans Skyre.
Quote from: Arkansan on November 16, 2021, 11:15:31 PM
Plenty of Robots! Of course I prefer more weird science fantasy than straight fantasy.
Then you may want to check out the Frantabulous Robot Generator!