So one of my players came across the Basalisk War droid and gave me a good backstory as to why he should have one. I agreed with some concessions of course.

Essentially the PC was a mechanic slave and he had worked on this modified Basalisk Droid and they began to bond as these droids can do, the original rider was killed during a uprising from another slave and he managed to escape with the droid although he had his legs cut off and has since replaced them with little spider like legs that he will use to interface with the droid. The Jawa and the droid are kind of one character, the droid would be the combat focus while the Jawa is the mechanic and would control the droid.

Of course droid is not going to be a fully functional and armed to the teethe version of the droid but his goal is to work on this droid over time slowly upgrading it and making it more powerful.

I have found some other posts where they fully stats out one of these things but I don't want it to be that powerful. Should I maybe make a Droid based on character creation rules and use that as a base? Would it be feasible to have the PC able to up a characteristic of the droid with a upgrade based on maybe cybernetics rules?

I received my Stay on Target book and I was considering making him a Rigger (as apposed to a beast rider) and then make the droid his "signature" vehicle. I would have him use the beast rules as well for when he is riding it.

Some Suggestions would be great

I would be really cautious about applying the Rigger & Beast Rider talents to the Basilisk. It's either a mechanical beast or a vehicle, but letting it be both goes against the design intent of the two trees. Such a thing will be plenty powerful already without being both a beast & a "signature vehicle."

I wasn't thinking to apply the beast rider tree at all, I consider it more on the side of a vehicle (it just happens to be "like" a beast) which is why I was thinking rigger. I only was thinking to use beast rules for intents of the actions or maneuvers it could do.

I was thinking maybe to build this Droid with standard char creation rules and then from there the only way to upgrade it will be via the pc actually working on it.

It sounds like a vehicle with some loose narrative flair. I would create it as if it were a vehicle (especially since you're applying rigger talents to it). The only question mark is if you are going to give it vehicle scale weapons. If the Player/Character intends to use it against other mooks most of the time, then give it personal scale weaponry, else give it vehicle scale weaponry.

Since Basilisks are droids, I would actually tend more towards treating it as a "beast" instead of a vehicle. This is primarily because I'd like to see them have actual WT and ST, and characteristics, and whoever heard of a vehicle with a melee weapon?

Instead of Survival to ride though, perhaps Pilot or Computers to control the droid. Or heck even something like Knowledge (Warfare).

I have given this matter copious amounts of thought, well over 45 seconds, which is certainly enough to sort through the myriad complications.

... and whoever heard of a vehicle with a melee weapon?

Honestly, I think I saw dozens on the new Mad Max Fury Road trailers. Aside from that... not really.

Motivation: Find my lost droid beast!

Or: No mechanical benefit, just part og my character.

What are you going to give the other players so as to not show favorites? If he gets a basilisk they need some love too

I'd even consider making the ride (droid) a new skill, it's definitely different enough, and if it's going to be a major part of the campaign, it's worth the xp.

I'd even consider making the ride (droid) a new skill, it's definitely different enough, and if it's going to be a major part of the campaign, it's worth the xp.

In the Ace career book, there is a specialization called Beast Rider, so maybe that books has something on that subject.

Can a jawa with blaster rifle(some heavy type) and a jetpack just be reskinned and flavoured as a legless jawa on/merged with a basilisk droid?

I'd go Rigger, and have him work up to a signature vehicle as his XP allows...

But I'd also have him max out his Obligation for it (based on your story above), and have it be barely functional.

So banged up, it almost functions as transportation now.

Working that thing back up to a fully functioning War Droid should be one of the major (if not the major) story arcs for that character.

From there, it's all just a matter of what components and how much cash the grubby little Jawa can get his mitts on. You want personality? Custom (or heavily modded, or completely rebuilt from so many scavenged parts that it ended up costing twice what a new one would) droid brain. Vocalization? Custom. Built in weapons? no different than a droid or vehicle. Don't overthink it too much, but keep him hungry for the next upgrade, cuz that's what it's really all about.

Besides, once he has it finished, what's to stop the first Mando he runs across from jacking him for it? (answer: the Basolisk).

Having said all of that...

You could always go the 'two character' route. A buddy and I did that many years ago, to great effect.

One PC plays the War Droid, built with XP along the banged up lines above, one PC plays the Jawa, keeping the war droid up and running, and even performing in combat repairs and support, watching HUD ground scanning radar, and basically functioning like an R2 unit in an X wing.... could be fun!

The war droid character needs to be ok with playing a very limited character out of combat (no way is that thing going into the cantina, at least not through the front door), and they would still have a loooong way to go to reach full capacity...

and the Jawa needs to be cool with playing a support character in combat, but... why not? Somebody has to be the cleric...

It sounds like a vehicle with some loose narrative flair. I would create it as if it were a vehicle (especially since you're applying rigger talents to it). The only question mark is if you are going to give it vehicle scale weapons. If the Player/Character intends to use it against other mooks most of the time, then give it personal scale weaponry, else give it vehicle scale weaponry.

This droid would not have vehicle scale weaponry. That is something maybe after he puts a lot of money into it that he could add that on or upgrade it somehow. It will be essentially his form of transportation but will act like a beast would.

Since Basilisks are droids, I would actually tend more towards treating it as a "beast" instead of a vehicle. This is primarily because I'd like to see them have actual WT and ST, and characteristics, and whoever heard of a vehicle with a melee weapon?

Instead of Survival to ride though, perhaps Pilot or Computers to control the droid. Or heck even something like Knowledge (Warfare).

I have given this matter copious amounts of thought, well over 45 seconds, which is certainly enough to sort through the myriad complications.

Because I was thinking of actually building the droid based on the character creation rules this will have WT and ST, characteristics and everything but I was thinking of treating it as a "vehicle" for the rigger as I see that as being more useful then the actual beast rider in this particular case.

... and whoever heard of a vehicle with a melee weapon?

Honestly, I think I saw dozens on the new Mad Max Fury Road trailers. Aside from that... not really.

Would a vehicle not be considered one big melee weapon?

What are you going to give the other players so as to not show favorites? If he gets a basilisk they need some love too

The other players have actually received quite a bit over time, this is a brand new character and will have some severe limitations on himself without this droid and the droid will also be no where near as powerful as a fully functional one. He will be a good mechanic (which the group needs) and thats always a benefit.

I'd even consider making the ride (droid) a new skill, it's definitely different enough, and if it's going to be a major part of the campaign, it's worth the xp.

Thats actually quite a good idea I may consider this.

I'd even consider making the ride (droid) a new skill, it's definitely different enough, and if it's going to be a major part of the campaign, it's worth the xp.

In the Ace career book, there is a specialization called Beast Rider, so maybe that books has something on that subject.

I have that book as mentioned in original post. I was thinking of using the beast rules in it but not the actual beast rider. I just feel the rigger is a better fit for the situation.

I'd go Rigger, and have him work up to a signature vehicle as his XP allows...

But I'd also have him max out his Obligation for it (based on your story above), and have it be barely functional.

So banged up, it almost functions as transportation now.

Working that thing back up to a fully functioning War Droid should be one of the major (if not the major) story arcs for that character.

From there, it's all just a matter of what components and how much cash the grubby little Jawa can get his mitts on. You want personality? Custom (or heavily modded, or completely rebuilt from so many scavenged parts that it ended up costing twice what a new one would) droid brain. Vocalization? Custom. Built in weapons? no different than a droid or vehicle. Don't overthink it too much, but keep him hungry for the next upgrade, cuz that's what it's really all about.

Besides, once he has it finished, what's to stop the first Mando he runs across from jacking him for it? (answer: the Basolisk).

That was my thought as well, this is actually what his main story arc is. He wants to get this droid back up to being fully functional, to start it will be his form of transportation and will have some basic weaponry maybe equivalent to a blaster rifle or something and melee attack. other than that it's just a "dumb" beast and will do what it's master commands. Over time as money permits (and finding specific parts) he will be able to slowly increase the droids power, upgrade weapons, get the flying working, increase it's strength, speed, shields, armor, etc) but this will all cost him time and money to do.

I would flat out say no to the player but it's your game.

Have you thought about stating a Clone type Scout Walker type ride and putting a very simple droid brain in it?

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/c__/images/b/b1/All_Terrain_Recon_Transport.png/revision/20121217210325?path-prefix=clone

Desslok asked about this a while back. Because they are droids and have some sentience it can be a difficult proposition as you have to decide whether this a vehicle or a droid.

You should probably talk to the player and determine how he intends to use the Basalisk. Consider if giving it vehicle scale weaponry when using it in personal scale combat is going to be a problem in your game, and make sure the design you want fits the intent.

Were it my game, I would make it a mount, a vehicle, or a droid, but not a combination. You'll risk running into balance issues or worse, quirky situations were the rules don't completely apply (or more than one does), and you'll have to make some funky and possibly far-reaching decisions.

I don't know your GM style or your group, so mostly my advice is just to exercise caution.

Desslok asked about this a while back. Because they are droids and have some sentience it can be a difficult proposition as you have to decide whether this a vehicle or a droid.

You should probably talk to the player and determine how he intends to use the Basalisk. Consider if giving it vehicle scale weaponry when using it in personal scale combat is going to be a problem in your game, and make sure the design you want fits the intent.

Were it my game, I would make it a mount, a vehicle, or a droid, but not a combination. You'll risk running into balance issues or worse, quirky situations were the rules don't completely apply (or more than one does), and you'll have to make some funky and possibly far-reaching decisions.

I don't know your GM style or your group, so mostly my advice is just to exercise caution.

That's is basically why I mentioned Clone Scout Walker with a very simple droid brain and should have mentioned the Autopilot Droid Brain from Fly Casual. It will come when called (like a horse) and you can put weapons on it and ride it (like a vehicle). Defiantly a Rigger's vehicle. Since that walker hasn't been stated In the rules, you could build it with personal scale weapons (1 Ranged Heavy, 2 Ranged Light) with one maybe 2 HP (I think 2 or more is to much considering the AT-ST only has one HP), Stick the Droid Auto Pilot Brain in it and roll play it as a mount (the Droid Auto Pilot like any other "computer" or droid gains a personality just like a droid if the memory isn't wiped regularly). Now, you have something to role play as a "smart" beast that is really a vehicle but not a "beast", It's all in how the player role plays it from there set with in the rules.

Why not flavour an armor, a heavy blaster rifle and a jetpack as the droid? The jawa can pump up his brawn in character generation and say it`s only because of the droid, when he is not on it, it is still 1.

Jawa with equipment = jawa merged with droid:).. Same mechanics, different flavour. He might start out with a poor armor and blaster, but change them out with better ones as he upgrades the droid or fixes it up in the long run.

Your player is triggering on his character idea and being creative. As a gm I think you should reward that and appreaciate his enthusiasm!