I need to inject some comedy into my game. I feel like the best way to do that is to introduce a non-combat Npc to the story. Originally I was just going to introduce a sassy foul-mouthed astromech droid to the game. Then the novelty of having a blatant R2-D2 clone wore off. Rather than go through the same process with the cantankerous Chopper, I decided that maybe a more adorable approach would be interesting.

That's when I thought about B-MO from Adventure Time. The problem is that much of B-MO's appeal is through his adorable gender bent voice and his childish dialogue. Things that would be very hard to portray in an Astromech Droid.

I can do some pretty great noises and voice impersonations but imitating an Astromech Droid is beyond me. How else could I approach this?

Use a soundboard that has all the sounds from R2D2.

http://www.soundboard.com/sb/R2D2_R2_D2_sounds

That's a great start. What about behaviors and personality quirks? I was thinking about showing it talk to itself and giving g it it's own secret room on the ship where it collects things, like a mirror for talking to.

That's a great start. What about behaviors and personality quirks? I was thinking about showing it talk to itself and giving g it it's own secret room on the ship where it collects things, like a mirror for talking to.

Just use any of the sounds randomly to do the talking to itself. The behaviour and quirks will come out in time. It doesn't have to be all vocal either.

I mean, I'd play it up as an astomech with a LED display on its "head" that forms a pixelated face with some levels of expressions. Also have it double as a video game system, with game controllers popping out from one of the various tool compartments of the astromech.

As far as personality, I mean, I'd say playful, knoweldge of just odd stuff here and there. Have it talk to/sing to itself when its out on its own. I know it isn't very star wars'y, but I'd have it just speak basic and treat it as just a modified version with a full vocabulator (assuming you want to go the full B-MO route).

In our current campaign the characters found an astromech that the previous owners (a bunch of slavers) had retrofitted into a custom chassis. In this case a short, 1 meter tall, humanoid with a generically female shape. Think the robot from the old movie Metropolis, but much shorter.

I gave her the exact same stats as an astro droid, but the shape is a bit more maneuverable and can crawl around in a few places that an R-2 can't. I think I named her DJ-448. As a counter to her more petite and maneuverable form she does usually need to carry her tools, and often wears coveralls for the pockets and straps to hook things to. Part of her retrofit was to give her a voicebox.

Truth be told, the only reason not to give any R2 a voicebox is contrived. There's no real reason they wouldn't have one.

Truth be told, the only reason not to give any R2 a voicebox is contrived. There's no real reason they wouldn't have one.

Indeed. This way, you can require an “interpreter” that can act as the representative of the audience, and explain a lot more things than just whatever the dialog might be.

How interesting would the Star Wars saga be if R2 had a regular voice and there was never any need for C-3P0?

In an old D6 campaign, I successfully lobbied my GM to let me trade the astromech that came with my template for MST3K's Tom Servo (or a Star Wars equivalent). He looked and acted like Servo, but thought he was an astromech. He'd occasionally stick his finger into a scomp link socket to no effect.

The point being...do it however you want. If that means creating a totally new droid type, go for it.

Truth be told, the only reason not to give any R2 a voicebox is contrived. There's no real reason they wouldn't have one.

Indeed. This way, you can require an “interpreter” that can act as the representative of the audience, and explain a lot more things than just whatever the dialog might be.

How interesting would the Star Wars saga be if R2 had a regular voice and there was never any need for C-3P0?

Yep, quickest solution is to put a Vocabulator into your Astromech.

Gack. B-MO. Kill it. Nuke it from orbit.

In fact, you could nuke the entire Adventure Time show from orbit, and I’d be happy. Nuke the studio that produced it too, while you’re at it.

I'm not worried about the speech thing. I fully intend to assume my players speak any language that is plot relevant for them to speak. Essentially, everyone knows basic, binary, huttese, shryriiwook, and whatever else is plot relevant.

With R7-UP, I plan to use the R2-D2 Sounds wherever a simple reaction is needed. For every thing else I'll do my best B-MO impression.

Gack. B-MO. Kill it. Nuke it from orbit.

In fact, you could nuke the entire Adventure Time show from orbit, and I’d be happy. Nuke the studio that produced it too, while you’re at it.

As the father of a 14 year old who was briefly obsessed with the show...I can whole-heartedly agree.

Gack. B-MO. Kill it. Nuke it from orbit.

In fact, you could nuke the entire Adventure Time show from orbit, and I’d be happy. Nuke the studio that produced it too, while you’re at it.

As the father of a 14 year old who was briefly obsessed with the show...I can whole-heartedly agree.

I'm fine with Adventure Time. It's the mind numbing Uncle Grandpa that I want off the air.