For what I, at least, have judged good and sufficient story reasons I'm gifting one of my player's character with quite a boon in the form of a "faithful companion" type droid when we start our long-awaited campaign on Sunday.

I'd like to work up the specifications of the droid (which I view as having the personality and rough intelligence level of a loyal dog of some type, say a Border Collie or a rambunctious German Shepherd) in the format used for adversaries since it does have some (very small) combat capability. Really, I need these for when it gets shot at more than when it does any shooting.

The droid in question I'm taking from p. 24 of the West End Game's product, Galladinium's Fantastic Technology. I note here that I never played that game, I've just been mining those old products for ideas and material, so I don't really have the experience to do a quick one-to-one conversion (which I'm hoping some of you do!). The droid was designed by one Matthew Cunningham as part of a contest WEG apparently held, and I believe it's based on the little droid Chewbacca roars at and scares off outside the tubolift on the Death Star when he's in manacles in Episode IV.

And here are the "D6" specs:

M4 Message Droid

The M4 message droid is a sophisticated messaging unit with a high speed repulsorlift unit for rapid transit. The droid can carry datatapes and programs or it can holographically record a message up to five minutes long. It is perfect for situations where open-air broadcasts might be intercepted.

Type : Cybot Galactica M4 Message Droid

Dexterity: 1D

Dodge 5D

Knowledge: 1D

Mechanical: 1D

Perception: 1D

Strength: 1D

Technical: 1D

Equipped With:

• Holographic projector/recorder
• Repulsorlift drive unit with 4-meter flight ceiling
• Body armor (+2D physical, +1D energy, military version only)
• Internal sporting blaster (3D+1 stun damage, ranges: 0-5/10/20, military version only)

Move: 30

Size: 0.3 meters tall

Cost: 2,000, 4,000 (military version)

Note that I'm giving the character the military version.

I seem to remember that 2D in WEG was an average stat, like a 2 in EotE. Possibly the stats could match up like that.

E.G. Dexterity 1 = Agility 1

Although the only ones that match are Strength = Brawn, Dexterity = Agility

Knowledge could equal Intellect but more accurately an average of Knowledge, Technical and Mechanical would = Intellect.

Suppose Perception would become the skill Perception rank 1

The dodge you could replicate with side step talent?

Chewbacca roars at an MSE "Mouse" droid, I've always wanted one of them

Hurray for flying mail boxes!!!

I'd start with something like.....

Rival

Sil 0

All stats 1

Soak: 1

WT 11

Adversary 1

Military upgrades:

Ranged light 1

Laminate armor

Holdout stun blaster

The dodge you could replicate with side step talent?

Dodge was an optional ranged defense. Per D6 RAW (which for dodge wasn't real clear so was often misused) a Dodge of 5D when used in a reactionary capacity was worthless beyond short range.
Adversary 1 is probably a fair enough analog, though not really necessary...

I'd translate those D6 stats into something like this:

All characteristics: 1.

Soak 2 (from 1 Brawn and +1 for armour).

Internal hold-out blaster, stats as per the core rules.

Now the question becomes, do you want it to have additional abilities? The stats as above are suitable for a Minion-type NPC. If you start adding skills and/or talents it will be a Rival, which again will influence the Wound threshold. If you go with Rival, I'd add the following:

Computers 1

Coordination 1 (something this small would use Coordination over Athletics, in my opinion).

Mechanic 1.

Wound threshold 11 (use 5 if you keep it a Minion).

You might also want to give it the Dodge or Sidestep talent, but remember it would cost Wounds to activate, since it doesn't have any Strain threshold.

You might also want to give it the Dodge or Sidestep talent, but remember it would cost Wounds to activate, since it doesn't have any Strain threshold.

For future reference: Be careful about Dodge when converting from D6, it doesn't translate directly and the fuzzyness and regular misinterpretation of it's use in the D6 game only makes it worse.

If you think about it like this you'll probably usually be in the ballpark:

• If the character has a Dodge of less then 4D, it's probably best to ignore it. (Character will also probably be a Minion)
• 4-5D Adversary 1 (Character is probably a low Rival)
• 5-6D Adversary 2, or a talent. (Character most likely a Rival or low Nemesis)
• 7D+ Adversary 2+ and a Talent (Character almost certainly a Nemesis)
• Character has little to no other combat capability: Talent

Thank you all very much. I'll work something up based on what you've all written and report back in case anyone wants to critique it before I "go live" with the design.

Okay, how's this for its "adversary-style" write-up, which will be supplemented for the player with some of the narrative material from my first post?

M4 Message Droid [Minion]

Brawn: 1

Agility: 1

Intellect: 1

Cunning: 1

Willpower: 1

Presence: 1

Soak Value: 2

W. Threshold: 5

M/R Defense: 0|0

Skills (group only): Ranged (Light).

Talents: None.

Abilities: Droid (does not need to breathe, eat, or drink and can survive in vacuum or underwater. Immune to poisons or toxins). Silhouette 0. Flyer.

Equipment: Holdout Stun Blaster (Ranged [Light]; Damage 5; Critical —; Range [short]; Stun Damage). Built-in laminate armor. Built-in holographic recorder/projector.