... And knows absolutely nothing to do with itself.

I'm facing a minor issue here. Currently I am playing a melee focussed Droid, doing the things that melee focussed Droids do. Let's be clear here: I don't think my character is boring. There are just minor inconveniences I face with that hunk of junk.

Let me paint you a picture: We're the usual ragtag group of social misfits that populate the outer fringes of our beloved galaxy. We jump through all the hoops; fightin off mob bosses, stealing ships, killing people that we deem morally condemned (meaning that offer bounty in exchange for bulletholes), the usual. I decapitate, others annihilate, it's all good natured fun. But of course this is not a mere dungeoncrawl, this is roleplaying! So after a while we end up at a cantina...

And out they swarm. The charmer orders drinks for free, the cynical woman is trying to ignore male advances, the drunkards... well are being their usual selves and the droid is.. just kind of there. See, I don't think of myself as an asocial character, but what is the metalhead's motivation here? Bars tend to be great for numerous things; those being mostly drinks, women and contacts. Most of these I can't realisticly care for. Droids don't drink, Droids don't care for the fairer sex and my character is about as smooth as sandpaper with the bulky looks to match that. Intimidation can only get you so far.

Here lies my issue: I always have to take a knee and wait the situation out if none of the other PC's is mercyful enough to entertain yours truly. I get along with all of them just fine if we're by ourselves, but as soon as there is an attempt to extort information in another way than mashing their faces in I'm kind of useless. I understand that I don't have to be the focus and interesting all of the time, but bars and cantinas are pretty common occurences and I don't know what to do with myself. If we discuss information, negotiate deals and the like for about an hour or so, which is not uncommon, I just kind of sit there looking ofr somethign to do. Sometimes stuff will happen of course, but there is an abundance of occurences in which I sit or walk around aimlessly. Again, dialoge with PC's is not the issue; just the general hanging out in bars without feeling like you could just shut down or stay on the ship. I should maybe add that I'm not much of an experienced roleplayer. Maybe I am missing something blatantly obvious.

Bottom line: Within Bars I would like to have something to do that is a little unique. Any ideas?

By the way, this is of course assuming I can even get into the cantina. One would think we live in modern times with robot rights, but then again: this was a long time ago in a galaxy bla bla bla.

Also sorry if that has been asked before, I tried to find something along the lines of ths question with no avail.

If you want to just narrate your way into a good time, imagine if you had build in speakers and an Ipod. You can be a walking juke-box.

Do you have a fair Intellect and Cunning? Do you have Knowledge skills, Perception, and Streetwise? These can all be useful in simple information gathering. ID the other patrons, see who's concealing weapons, listen in surreptitiously on the conversations of others. Just sit there, but engage your senses and brain while doing so.

Before I get to your problem, the whole 'No Droids Allowed' thing might stem from the fairly recent clone wars. Y'know, where armies of droids laid waste to several parts of the galaxy. 20 years isn't that long.

As far as your situation: droids are often seen as property. Use this to your advantage and stand completely still in a corner of the bar, eavesdropping on everything that looks interesting. Or, instead of standing and eavesdropping, pose as a server droid. For that matter, interrogate the serving droids if there are any. Servants (and presumably droids) hear all kinds of juicy gossip.

If you want to just narrate your way into a good time, imagine if you had build in speakers and an Ipod. You can be a walking juke-box.

Uhh I kind of like that. It gives way to an abundance of interactions. I might have to talk to my mechanic. Thanks!

Before I get to your problem, the whole 'No Droids Allowed' thing might stem from the fairly recent clone wars. Y'know, where armies of droids laid waste to several parts of the galaxy. 20 years isn't that long.

As far as your situation: droids are often seen as property. Use this to your advantage and stand completely still in a corner of the bar, eavesdropping on everything that looks interesting. Or, instead of standing and eavesdropping, pose as a server droid. For that matter, interrogate the serving droids if there are any. Servants (and presumably droids) hear all kinds of juicy gossip.

I seem to recall a scene in the original trilogy in which droids were not allowed in bars. But I get what you are trying to say. I don't think our GM would really keep my out of a bar without purpose. I remember a novel about a black detective back in the slavery days of America that went about basically unspotted, solving crimes. I imagine it somewhat like that. Yet I don't think there often is too much flavour to ask from a GM, putting in extra character interactions and stories just because I can't take having nothing to do is a little too much to ask I think. And let's be real: There's just not always something interesting going on in a bar. I speak from experience. As of now, that is kind of what I have been doing anyway.. just not to that degree. I suppose there is appeal to be found in this exaggeration of machinery. I'll take that into consideration, thanks!

To my cunning and intelligence: I'm of average intellect, nothing to write home about. Not the type to sense motives or anything. But I guess I could try to incorporate that with the standing still and being perceived as an object sort of thing.

What is your motivation and backstory? As described you are a soulless murder-bot out for the cash. That tends to lead to no motivation to do anything in a social situation. If however you have decided that living beings are better killers (afterall clones bead battle droids) so you want to learn how to be more like a "real boy" then maybe you have a motivation to try and understand living beings to be mroe like them. That gives you a strong motivation to find anyone in the cantina who's actions you do not comprehend and try to understand them (either by talking to them or talking to others or spying on them). An evil Data from Star Trek.

That's just one idea so you don't have to go with that, but essentially I think your character needs some extra backstory added to give some motivations to get interacting with people.

What is your motivation and backstory? As described you are a soulless murder-bot out for the cash. That tends to lead to no motivation to do anything in a social situation. If however you have decided that living beings are better killers (afterall clones bead battle droids) so you want to learn how to be more like a "real boy" then maybe you have a motivation to try and understand living beings to be mroe like them. That gives you a strong motivation to find anyone in the cantina who's actions you do not comprehend and try to understand them (either by talking to them or talking to others or spying on them). An evil Data from Star Trek.

That's just one idea so you don't have to go with that, but essentially I think your character needs some extra backstory added to give some motivations to get interacting with people.

I did not elaborate too much on the characters backstory on purpose since in my experince not too many people care. The adventure we're running started very averagely with the escpae from Mos Shuuta. "I" was build to help the machanic escape said circumstances. I had all of this elaborate backstory on how this Droid used to be a guard whose owner died during the war and yadayadayada, but it really does not funnel into play as of now. I play him as kind of a stoner really.. He tends to be somewhat confused, with a short attention span and easily impressed by mundane things.

As for a greater goal you are asking for.. Well, thats just the thing, there really is none. He used to be a bodyguard but failed miserably, so he assumes that this can not be his main function and is trying to find a greater purpose in "life". The journey up to now is kind of part of the story.. His rudimentary main funtion was to help the gang escape from Teemo, but after that he was starting to be somewhat hazey and distracted. Right now his bodyguard reflexes kicked in on his rebuilder and our hacker, yet he is not satisfied with what to do. I had him go around town rattling through religions once, but he didn't find anything. We have not been playing too long as you might be able to tell. I might adopt a hobby or something along those lines in the hope it might help me to find a purpose. Right now the idea is that his only main function is staying functional and by extension, having as much of a safe and luxurious life as possible, hence the helping the group. Also he is pretty attached to the two characters for whom he feels to be responsible.

He's not much of a killer robot, that is just what he can do well.

Still, it is weird to ask people in a bar to solve your existential crisis. Although.. Could be fun.

This is part of why I was asking the Droid Power issue on another thread of that name.

I set p my Bar with "Charging" stations For Droids..

I dunno.. perhaps different droids like "Different sources of power? lol

Nothing says that a Droid couldn't develop the quirk for liking music or appreciate Twi'lek Dancers?

Or even a Good game of Dejarik or Sabaac?

My Cantinas, On Nar Shaddaa at least, Also contain Slot machines. My Nar Shaddaa is like a Huge Vegas planet.

If cantinas are a place for your group to be idle and roleplay a little, you might have to think outside the box, obviously. I would say to mention it to the GM so he could provide some things you can interact with.

And you don't have to be skilled in an area to ham up some fun roleplaying. If you are a menacing droid that looms, then loom menacingly. Your GM might throw in a few amising things for you to do. There are all kinds of nuts in the real world and the galaxy far, far away. I'm sure there's somebody who would have no qualms about trying to start a conversation with a faceless killing machine. There are probably all sorts of drunks (especially the weepy ones) that would be willing to talk to the coat rack, even if it moves around and has a dangerous weapon.

Business seems like something you should be a part of. Nothing makes a deal go down better than somebody silently threatening to cave somebody else's face in. If you actually have a charmer trying to pick up chicks, then that sounds like a good way to be the totally uncompromising anti-wing man. It'd only work once, but I'd do it.

Again, I'd mention, either in private with the GM or to the group as a whole, that you feel kind of useless in a bar.

Business seems like something you should be a part of. Nothing makes a deal go down better than somebody silently threatening to cave somebody else's face in. If you actually have a charmer trying to pick up chicks, then that sounds like a good way to be the totally uncompromising anti-wing man. It'd only work once, but I'd do it.

Again, I'd mention, either in private with the GM or to the group as a whole, that you feel kind of useless in a bar.

"Silently threatening" quickly becomes dull though. If I were to be actually involved with effect, maybe. But as a GM I would perceive this as a cop out, along the lines of "E-Jay looms over your conversation menacingly. Add an extra dice" or something like that. If it works, fine. If it does not after a while.. the problem is still the same. I could just as well leave the room and grab a beer.

Cockblocking the charmer sounds like fun though. I don't think the specific player will be the one to hook up often, but I'll definetely keep that in mind.

Talking to some drunks could also be fu, yet it would still face the problem that the GM would've focussed resources on me because I am bored. I guess others could join in though, so this is not a bad idea per se, it would just depend on the GM.

As for the fact that we are a fairly fresh group, I have already mentioned my conundrum to the GM himself. Maybe he'll take it into consideration. I'll definitely suggest some things from this thread. However, the original intention was to find something for me as a PC to do, with implied sovereignity over actions. Maybe should've specified that.

Well, if he's looking for a purpose in life....

LOOK for a purpose in life. Literally start looking. Walk up to people and ask them what their function is. Ask them if fulfilling it brings them pleasure.

Be inquisitive. Learn about the world and the organics that inhabit it. Does it differ from species to species? World to world? Organic to organic?

Do research, take surveys, perform experiments....

I also have Cantina that don't even allow Droids.... So a Droid would end up looking for something else to do... Like maybe he goes to a Store to purchase gear... Or maybe Hides from the local Stromtroopers looking for those Droids they missed at the entrance t the town.

Well, if he's looking for a purpose in life....

LOOK for a purpose in life. Literally start looking. Walk up to people and ask them what their function is. Ask them if fulfilling it brings them pleasure.

Be inquisitive. Learn about the world and the organics that inhabit it. Does it differ from species to species? World to world? Organic to organic?

Do research, take surveys, perform experiments....

Imagine a huge robot walking around asking for purpose. There generally are two options: Either malicious intend or fear. Fear would be a somewhat dismissve answer along the lines of "I ... oh gods I don't know, being nice?" and then you are back at the bottom. Really expanding malicious intend would be catastrophic.. something like "Organic life is worthless, do something about that" and suddenly you have a final fantasy villain.. with the distinction that this one sucks even worse.

My first endavour to find purpose was to run around (on Corouscant) to find religion, which this character perceived as an easy step, yet did not work. Next I'll have him raid a library to read up on philosophy. I'm thinking a bit of aristotelian virtue ethic stuff as this allows violence in measures... I might introduce some random made up philosopher... of course Aristotle has not been born/discovered in this point in time.

Surveys seem a bit silly as a sensible person would never do such a thing (I get why a Droid might do such a thing but this opens up a ton of mischief I do not care about). Learning about the world is just kind of what I do anyway.

I also have Cantina that don't even allow Droids.... So a Droid would end up looking for something else to do... Like maybe he goes to a Store to purchase gear... Or maybe Hides from the local Stromtroopers looking for those Droids they missed at the entrance t the town.

Yeah I could go somewhere else but then I'd lose the chance to interact with other players even more and I could just stay on the ship. If I really were not to be allowed in a cantina I bet our GM would have something in store for me.

I get the question, but, as a GM, I kind of view the issue as a two way street. A player wants to contribute or get involved, there has to be something to contribute to or be involved with.

As a droid, maybe seek out other droids and spread the seeds of anarchy dissention insurgency mayhem revolution. Throw a total screw ball and force the the GM to improvise. Not in a mean way and go off the rails entirely, but just act out a bit. Make your character go rampant. The 'psycho assassin droid' is a little over done, so think of some other ways to be weird. Take some skills in Coordination or the Performer spec and become the bestest dancing murder machine this side of Hutt Space. Become Robot Space Elvis. If you say that not many weird or exciting things happen in a bar, then be the occasional weird or exciting thing that happens in a bar.

Sorry if I'm being unhelpful. I can only so much advice to a situation so subjective.

AS a Droid though.. I would use My superior Intellect to beat the Organics at Sabaac and Dejarik and so forth. Make me some credits... even from my own group :-P

The Statement of Superior is Meant to be a subjective Bias that since i have a computer brain, I can think faster and keep track of more things than you.

I get the question, but, as a GM, I kind of view the issue as a two way street. A player wants to contribute or get involved, there has to be something to contribute to or be involved with.

As a droid, maybe seek out other droids and spread the seeds of anarchy dissention insurgency mayhem revolution. Throw a total screw ball and force the the GM to improvise. Not in a mean way and go off the rails entirely, but just act out a bit. Make your character go rampant. The 'psycho assassin droid' is a little over done, so think of some other ways to be weird. Take some skills in Coordination or the Performer spec and become the bestest dancing murder machine this side of Hutt Space. Become Robot Space Elvis. If you say that not many weird or exciting things happen in a bar, then be the occasional weird or exciting thing that happens in a bar.

Sorry if I'm being unhelpful. I can only so much advice to a situation so subjective.

Yeah you are right, I think our GM will definetly do something in my favour. I just brought it up recently and there didn't seem to be eough time to play since then. Next time I'll encounter a cantina, I might give a more specific update.

Thankfully I did not go for the psycho assassin. Not sure if it sounded that way. My character is more of a confused stoner type, because I thought a stoner Droid would be kind of fun. Revolution.. Maybe. But the nature of Droids is that they tend to be inactive minds. The threshold for life is not fulfilled in most of them, so a revolution would be futile in all but specific circumstances and if you are running a published adventure as we do, this just does not come into play withough significant adjustments. Taking him of the rails... I kind of like that. Just throwing XP after XP into a certain skill that is atypical for me. Honestly, my character is faily strong in our setting and I could afford it. Maybe I'll dance. Maybe I'll play an instrument. I don't mind sacrificing a bit of experience.. If EotE has taught me anything than it is that playing characters is more fun than playing stats.

AS a Droid though.. I would use My superior Intellect to beat the Organics at Sabaac and Dejarik and so forth. Make me some credits... even from my own group :-P

The Statement of Superior is Meant to be a subjective Bias that since i have a computer brain, I can think faster and keep track of more things than you.

Yeah that is a neat thing to do, practical as well. I'll have to discuss ths with the GM though; Whether we actually play out the game and stuff like that. I think that would hinder the whole evening too much and if I were just to do checks based on luck etc. I'd definitely get screwed. There is a price to be payed for combat efficency.

Edit: Btw you have all helped me tremendously, I would not want you to think otherwise.

What are your characteristics?

@Richardbuxton

Nothing too special.

A Brawn of 4, everything else 2 exept for Charisma, which is a whopping 1.

ok. so i suggest 3 (even 4) out of career ranks in 1 social skill, pick the one that matches the demeanour of your character. You will only ever roll 2 Proficiency dice, but a pool of YYGG is powerful. you can also use it to back up the parties default face, or when your party splits. Role-play it as your droid developing a personality quirks.

Coercion for a droid who is angry with the ineptitude of meatbags. Charm for a droid who has a built in boom box and "Brings the Party." Deception for a droid who becomes a habitual liar and boaster. Negotiation for a droid who cant help but haggle, even for the smallest of things. Leadership for a droid who starts to "herd" the meatbags, always telling them what to do or should be planing to do.

Talents and specs are fun and flavoursome, but those ranks in a skill and some creative roleplaying is all you need for a bit of fun.

What is your droid doing in the bar?

They don't serve your kind there.

Remember too that just because droids don't have sex doesn't necessarily mean that they don't seek out platonic meet-ups with other droids (or non-droids, but they'll never really understand).

Wait? What? Droids don't have Sex!!!!

Crap... (crumbles up character sheet I was filling out)

There goes My Fembot Sexbot Army.

Oil-refill.
You still need to oil your joints, but also your innards.
So you order an oil-refill that you'll intake orally(ish) or whatever way you want to narrate it.

Also, there's always pesky jawa-esque creatures in bars that will pester the living daylights out of you.

Oh, and the occasional "I don't like droids" type that you'll have to put in place.

Oil-refill.

You still need to oil your joints, but also your innards.

So you order an oil-refill that you'll intake orally(ish) or whatever way you want to narrate it.

Also, there's always pesky jawa-esque creatures in bars that will pester the living daylights out of you.

Oh, and the occasional "I don't like droids" type that you'll have to put in place.

Oil refills feel kind of forced. There is no real reason for a Droid to inject that stuff orally. I could rolepolay this of course and make up a reason and nobody would object but.. Meh, does not really click with me. Thanks though.

I brought up the issue to the GM and maybe there will be more fluff to the whole scenario I can interact with.

I'm probably going to start dumping XP into social skills. That's what you get for only focussing on combat. Serves me well.

Not sure which ones yet but this should be easier to figure out. Got decent stats in Coercion, though this does not really reflect my character. But I bet I can come up with something.

Oil-refill.

You still need to oil your joints, but also your innards.

So you order an oil-refill that you'll intake orally(ish) or whatever way you want to narrate it.

Also, there's always pesky jawa-esque creatures in bars that will pester the living daylights out of you.

Oh, and the occasional "I don't like droids" type that you'll have to put in place.

Oil refills feel kind of forced. There is no real reason for a Droid to inject that stuff orally. I could rolepolay this of course and make up a reason and nobody would object but.. Meh, does not really click with me. Thanks though.

I brought up the issue to the GM and maybe there will be more fluff to the whole scenario I can interact with.

I'm probably going to start dumping XP into social skills. That's what you get for only focussing on combat. Serves me well.

Not sure which ones yet but this should be easier to figure out. Got decent stats in Coercion, though this does not really reflect my character. But I bet I can come up with something.

Oh there's no real reason, since droids can take oilbaths instead (which they canonically do), but that takes the right kind of equipment and you might not have that.

So drinking works as a poor mans version of it