In a universe as vast, and dare I say expanded, as the Star Wars universe, there's a lot to experience. For now I'd like to focus on technology. In many sources we've seen antigravity, flash freezing, lightning cannon, emp, really, you name it, and I bet it's in there somewhere.

If a player came to you with a character concept of a droid that has been outfit with special equipment that allows said droid to emit an antigravity beam to lift and move objects, and a super computer brain capable of reasonably predicting the probable outcome of events, would you let them have access to Force powers?

If they jump through the same hurdles to acquire the Force rating, spend the XP to buy the powers and upgrades, and understand that such a rare and powerful droid will draw a lot of negative attention if discovered, you know I just might.

Would you?

Purists would say no. It's a downside of their species, after all.

I'd say: go with whatever works for you at your table.

We're running a romance between a Jedi and a droid and he's amazed at how human she seems, despite not being able to read her with the Force.

A part of me even considered something like the 'Synthesis' ending from Mass Effect, where droids can become fully 'alive'. I pulled back from it, but it was an option.

Clark's Third Law - Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

I would totally allow something similar, especially if I thought it would provide an opportunity to increase the dramatic tension or personal growth of the characters.

This, again.

No, I wouldn't allow it.

Player: "I got this awesome idea for a character. He's human, but he doesn't need to breathe, and never needs to eat, drink, or sleep."

Me: "Explain to me why?"

Player: "He has a dissociative illness, a form of solipsism; he believes he's a droid."

Me: "Again, why? The first time you find yourself in a vacuum he'll start to suffocate..."

Player: "Sheer force of will..."

Me: "Nope."

To me, this is snowflakeism.

This, again.

No, I wouldn't allow it.

Player: "I got this awesome idea for a character. He's human, but he doesn't need to breathe, and never needs to eat, drink, or sleep."

Me: "Explain to me why?"

Player: "He has a dissociative illness, a form of solipsism; he believes he's a droid."

Me: "Again, why? The first time you find yourself in a vacuum he'll start to suffocate..."

Player: "Sheer force of will..."

Me: "Nope."

So much this.

If a droid starts believing she's a little teapot, short and stout, the only thing that's in order is on the spot diagnostics. More likely than not, administered using a sledgehammer.

No, I wouldn't. If said player that they wanted to play an Iron Knight then I would say sure in a heartbeat. Iron Knights are the race of force sensitive Shard and wear droid bodies like suits to use their powers. Shards are crystalline beings.

This, again.

No, I wouldn't allow it.

Player: "I got this awesome idea for a character. He's human, but he doesn't need to breathe, and never needs to eat, drink, or sleep."

Me: "Explain to me why?"

Player: "He has a dissociative illness, a form of solipsism; he believes he's a droid."

Me: "Again, why? The first time you find yourself in a vacuum he'll start to suffocate..."

Player: "Sheer force of will..."

Me: "Nope."

To me, this is snowflakeism.

Fair enough, you are entitled to your opinion, but the argument above is a masked man fallacy. The idea of having mechanical reproductions of existing Force Powers and using said Force Power rules in order to avoid creating new rules to govern said mechanical reproductions does not equate to the argument you presented.

Had I player who said that he wanted a human that didn't need to breathe, eat or sleep, perhaps due to the biomechanical manipulations of an alien race, then I would reply that instead of making up an entirely new race that was human but didn't need to eat breathe or sleep, then we'll use the rules for making a droid with the adjustment that he isn't metallic but flesh.

It isn't snowflakeism, it's narrative hand wavery to re-skin existing rules in order to heighten the enjoyment of a player's idea without significantly adjusting game-balance.

I'd allow a droid to play something without force ratings, like an aggressor or a makashi. He could be one of the sparring droids the Sith use for training. Allowing a droid to have an in-built tractor beam or tesla coil? Hell no, I don't even have to justify that.

And the force is supposed to come from life. Think about that for a minute. Love and fear, creation and destruction. Can't have none of that if the dark lord built you from spare parts because he was bored.

I probably wouldn't allow it at Char Gen. But here is my idea of how I would make them Cybernetics:

1. The Character has a Force Rating, but receives none of the Morality/Conflict effects. When they use Dark Side pips they suffer the usual strain and Flip a DP for it (Standard EotE/AoR force rules)

2. For a very sizeable amount of money (10k credits x the force rating required for the power?) the PC installs a Cyber implant that grants the Basic Force Power.

3. Each upgrade in the force tree becomes a Modification the PC can make to the Cybernetic Implant.

4. The XP cost for the basic power and upgrades MUST also be spent.

5. Each Upgrade costs the XP cost x 50cr (5xp = 250cr, 10xp = 500cr)

6. The difficulty to install each mod is its xp cost divided by 5.

7. Each mod successfully installed Upgrades the difficulty to install further mods

8. If you fail to install a mod you can no longer attempt to install it!

9. The number of Cyber implants required for each is equal to the minimum force rating of that power.

I think i need to do an example!

Cybernetic: Anti Grav Beam

Base Effect: The user may spend FP to move 1 object of Sil 0 that is within short range up to his maximum range. Default maximum is Short.

Cybernetic slots required: 1

Base Cost: 10,000cr

Modifications:

4 Magnitude modifications: Spend FP to increase Targets affected by Magnitude modifications installed

• First 2 are Easy difficulty to install, 5xp and 250cr each.
• The third and forth are Average Difficulty to install, 10xp and 500cr each
• Must be installed in order

4 Strength modifications: Spend FP to increase silhouette able to be targeted equal to strength modifications installed.

• First 2 are Average difficulty to install, 10xp and 500cr each.
• The third is Hard difficulty to install, 15xp and 750cr
• The forth is Daunting difficulty to install, 20xp and 1000cr
• Must be installed in order.

3 Range Upgrades: Spend FP to increase the powers range by a number of range bands equal to Range modifications installed.

• First 2 are Easy Difficulty to install, 5xp and 250cr.
• The Third is a Hard Difficulty to install, 15xp and 750cr to install (at least 1 range and the first control must be purchased before this modification can be made)

3 Control Upgrades:

• First Control allows the user to make a ranged combat check as a combined check to cause damage equal to 10xSil (min 5 damage). Average difficulty to install, 10xp and 500cr (must have at least 1 range upgrade to install this mod)
• Second control allows the user to pull objects from secure mounts. Easy difficulty to install, 5xp and 250cr (Must have at least 1 range mod and 1st control mod already installed to be able to install this mod)
• Third control mod allows the user to perform fine manipulation at long distances as if they where using their own hands. Hard difficulty to install, 15xp and 750cr. (Must have at least 1 range upgrade and both other control upgrades before attempting to install this mod).

Hate on it, I'm sure its not perfect, but its a complicated way to do what you want, at significant cost!

Otherwise you could make a much simpler Cybernetic that doesn't have any where near the maximum potential, but allows some of the same effects.

(This is in no way me condoning this, personally i think if a player wants to use the force then just don't play a droid!, but I'm here to help not hinder!)

And as always, its your game, if everyone at your table is having fun then your doing the right thing.

Edit: as a side note this is a single roll of the dice pool for the hardest posible check by a mechanic with 7int and 6mech (absolute limit)

1eA+6eP+3eB+8eC: 2 successes, 1 advantage, 2 Triumph, 1 Despair [1eA=S/S] [6eP=S/A, Tr, S, S/A, A/A, Tr] [3eB=A, S, A/A] [8eC=Th, F/Th, D, F/Th, -, Th/Th, F/Th, F/F]

I'd allow a droid to play something without force ratings, like an aggressor or a makashi. He could be one of the sparring droids the Sith use for training. Allowing a droid to have an in-built tractor beam or tesla coil? Hell no, I don't even have to justify that.

And the force is supposed to come from life. Think about that for a minute. Love and fear, creation and destruction. Can't have none of that if the dark lord built you from spare parts because he was bored.

It's not using the Force. It's a player using the rules set for the Force in this system to replicate the effects of having, say, construction equipment as part of their droid frame.

And if an organic character needs to not breathe or eat or sleep, then that's what cybernetics are for. Also drugs. So why not if the player is willing to play by the rules?

And lastly, if a droid has shoulder cannon like the predator, and uses it to lift, float, and throw objects... aim at it. It's not a connection to the Force, it's a device.

Nope. While the effects of the described "powers" (antigrav, prediction) might appear the same, their source differs greatly, and should have an alternate system for their mechanics. Namely, their system should, ultimately, be mechanical, and reflect mechanical needs. While you might end up having them cost the same in terms of XP upgrade, I'd argue that these powers would require their own unique carriage or limiting factors: massive power drains (strain or even wounds); time delays between use (once per session); etc. And that's not even factoring in the massive costs, and odds of success in making the modifications.

I'd allow a droid to play something without force ratings, like an aggressor or a makashi. He could be one of the sparring droids the Sith use for training. Allowing a droid to have an in-built tractor beam or tesla coil? Hell no, I don't even have to justify that.

And the force is supposed to come from life. Think about that for a minute. Love and fear, creation and destruction. Can't have none of that if the dark lord built you from spare parts because he was bored.

It's not using the Force. It's a player using the rules set for the Force in this system to replicate the effects of having, say, construction equipment as part of their droid frame.

And if an organic character needs to not breathe or eat or sleep, then that's what cybernetics are for. Also drugs. So why not if the player is willing to play by the rules?

And lastly, if a droid has shoulder cannon like the predator, and uses it to lift, float, and throw objects... aim at it. It's not a connection to the Force, it's a device.

So now we've gone from replicating the force to also having extra arms?

IMO, a droid is a droid, and wouldn’t have a connection to the Force.

But a droid could potentially use technology to simulate Force powers or other abilities, and there might be skills that could be learned that would not normally be used or known by anyone who was not Force-sensitive.

A droid could also be a host to a life form of a different type that does have a connection to the Force, like the Shard.

Play within those rules, and yes — I’d allow it. But “Skippy the Droid” is not a thing I’d allow in my game.

Using my example, the human doesn't have enough credits at chargen to purchase the necessary cybernetics. Let's say I wave the costs...now I'm obligated to balance chargen for the remaining PCs.

Player 1: "Yay, I'm a biological droid!"

Player 2: "What do I get?"

Player 3: "Yeah, and me?"

Let's take the relative balance of chargen, throw it out the airlock, and make the process such a damned headache for the GM that the idea of running a game for Snowflake And Friends is unappealing.

Nope, I said.

I'd say it's pushing the munchkin line.

Sure it can be explained but what is the point of playing a droid in the first place? Is it to scam special abilities or is it to explore being an artificial life form? The droid in our campaign is a riot. He's an R4 unit that altered the course of an Imperial supply ship he was astrogating for to fly past a neutron star to kill the human crew. The droid crew then defected to the Rebellion. He refers to his fellow team mates and every other living being as "meat-bags" and drops the most hilarious one liners. He embraces the droid part of his character, not tries to find ways to be more of a meat-bag.

The idea of a defacto force using droid seems to be avoiding the droidness of the character.

From both a narrative and mechanical perspective, the internal modifications this player wants would not work the same way as the Force. It wouldn't be a matter of rolling the Force Die, because that mimics the character tapping into the mystical power of the Force around them. They wouldn't be earning it through XP because these modifications aren't something they can "learn" via practice and experience the way a living being with Force-Sensitivity can learn new powers.

A decent compromise may be to create some new Cybernetic Modifications that accomplish similar things without being exactly Force Powers. Why do this? You don't want to step on the way the Force works, since it's mystery and limitless potential (especially as opposed to technology) is a major theme of Star Wars stories that involve it. Here are some suggestions:

Micro Tractor Beam

The wielder may make an Average Gunnery check to move one Silhouette 1 or smaller object within medium range to another location within medium range.

The wielder may use this item to grab and hurl objects as projectiles. The item may be fired using the following profile:

Gunnery//Range-Medium//Damage-10//Crit-NA//Prepare1, Knockdown

If the wielder attempts to use this item to move an unwilling character, the Gunnery check is opposed by the the target's Resilience.

ultimately, unless you have the resources of a huge galactic organization, tech is inherently more limited than the Force, and that's not something you want to step on.

Love and fear, creation and destruction. Can't have none of that if the dark lord built you from spare parts because he was bored.

The droid PC at my table begs to differ.

(and no, I don't let droids be Force-sensitive either...)

In a universe as vast, and dare I say expanded, as the Star Wars universe, there's a lot to experience. For now I'd like to focus on technology. In many sources we've seen antigravity, flash freezing, lightning cannon, emp, really, you name it, and I bet it's in there somewhere.

If a player came to you with a character concept of a droid that has been outfit with special equipment that allows said droid to emit an antigravity beam to lift and move objects, and a super computer brain capable of reasonably predicting the probable outcome of events, would you let them have access to Force powers?

If they jump through the same hurdles to acquire the Force rating, spend the XP to buy the powers and upgrades, and understand that such a rare and powerful droid will draw a lot of negative attention if discovered, you know I just might.

Would you?

No

No for another reason. Star Wars tech doesn't work that way.

A handful of people here are reacting in ways that explicitly state or strongly suggest this is a discussing of Force sensitive droids. It isn't.

Plainly, now: Droids do not get to use the Force.

I'm asking if you'd allow a droid character to use the mechanics of the force powers if narratively they fall under the category of technology. Move using antigravity, protect being a ray shield emitter, etc.

Some of you have responded appropriately, but if your whole arguement has been, or is about to be solely, "But droids can't use the Force!" then you need to read this again.

No for another reason. Star Wars tech doesn't work that way.

My reply here.

No for another reason. Star Wars tech doesn't work that way.

My reply here.

Yes, I saw that. And that's a wholly valid reason.

I think some powers could be replicated this way, such as the Move already discussed. But altering someones feelings or emotions is probably off base, so would suppress.

Battle Meditation: only if everyone has the implant (Droid army anyone?)

Bind: Possibly a different application of the Tractor Beam idea

Enhance: i cant see a way this would work with tech,

Foresee: Again, cant see a way for this to work with tech

Heal/Harm: I can only see a reasonable explanation for the Heal part of the power: it is some advanced med equipment.

Influence: Again no tech i can think of

Misdirect: Potentially some kind of Stealth system, only works on the Droid though, and some of the upgrades are not applicable

Move: Easiest to explain as above

Protect Unleash: this one i would probably split into 2 different Cyber systems, Protect is a highly advanced shield, Unleash is some kind of nasty Lightning discharge system.

Seek: probably un feasible

Sense: The commit side of this could be explained with a complex system thats predicting movements of the environment and beings, but the sense thoughts part seems outside of SW tech.

Suppress: nope.

So your left with:

Battle Meditation

Bind

Heal

Move

Protect

Unleash

Sense (sort of)

Look up tractor beams. You don't have to us the force to simulate this stuff in the game as there is already the equipmment that reasonably does the same thing. Including an armor attachment that helps with dodging.

The problem that comes into play when you decide to allow Droids to have Force Powers is it breaks Droids.

Droids are already a min-max paradise. Their little bit of balancing factor is their weaknesses. They cannot have the Force and yet at the same time they are immune to any Force powers that work "on the mind". At the point you give them Force Powers, you have to remove their immunity to them as well.

Realistically you destroy the point of picking a species and you might as well let anyone pick whatever Abilities + Free Skill + starting XP that they want.

The species XP available is based on Characteristics/Free Skills/Free Talents/Special Abilities/Weaknesses... If you get rid of the weakness, you need to remove some of the XP. Then you have to start adjusting the min-max ability because it is based on the XP available. Suddenly the balance of the species goes out the window. This is even before you get into the "story breaking" part of it.

If you do not care about balance, or sticking to any of the source material, then do whatever you wish. It would be a hefty task that is more complicated than "just trying to justify why they have the talents".