Hi, i'm new to this whole GM thing, so I wanted to look for your advice on whether to allow this, and how much it would cost?

On pg 45 for droid creation, it suggests how players should be creative in their development - and it already suggests the option of making a blaster pistol built into an arm.

So I have a droid PC who wants to install concealed vibroknives into his arms. He would also like to give it the 'quick draw' ability, so he can be like wolverine and unsheathe his vibroknives as an incidental instead of a maneuver.

Should I allow the player to do this? But say it only works if he cross specializes and gains a rank in the quick draw skill (ie, the vibroknives are installed/concealed, but the mechanisms to trigger them still require a maneuver).

Or should i just say it will cost xxx amount of credits to be able to install and make the vibroknives act as if he had the quick draw talent?

As I said, i'm new to GMing, so i don't want to break the rules, but want to keep everyone happy! Glad to hear any input!

Since there's no Quick Draw-esque hardpoint option for Melee weapons, I'd say he'd need to buy the Talent with XP and can't quickly deploy them until he does. I think the intent of the "concealed blaster" stuff is to either (1) install a holdout blaster into your body, which provides a bonus to conceal it or (2) use the cybernetics rules for concealed weapons mounted in the body. I don't think being a droid is intended to be a workaround to the general concealability rules, or the rules governing combat actions.

I'd probably allow it but it would be paid with starting obligation. The player would have to choose the equipment vs extra xp. It would probably take up a slot out of the six available. There is enough equipment mod and skills available that it isn't game breaking and removing the availablity for xp at creation easily balances. It creates a personal obligation, possibly debt from a gladiator business, that adds to storylines.

Remember as GM you are the final judge on game mechanics. His claws might get him in trouble especially on peaceful planets with weapon restrictions or if captured he might lose his arms!

I charged the droid in my group 50% ontop of listed cost in book to make equipment purchased 'built-in'. I havent made him roll yet, but could easily add a mechanics check.

This 50% would likely be applied to any/all attachments/mods he is going to incorporate as well.

It's ultimately up to you as the GM.

If I wanted to allow it.. I'd probably do it like this:

The "Filed front sight" is a comparable mod, so using that as a base I'd say it's a mod, it costs at least 200 credits maybe more and take up 1 HP, it gives the weapon the "Quickdraw" innate talent, but it upgrades all attack difficulties to represent the extra stress using the weapons will put on the arms.

I would do it just how Ghost suggested. Just let it work like a Filed Sight and called it "Spring Loaded"

Done and done.

In general this is meant to be a narrative thing. "Built-in" should not give any mechanical bonus without using mods. So if your friend wants to have the claws gain Quick Draw as an innate talent, he should add a modification that costs hard points and credits. It is up to you as the GM if he can start with the modification.

Alternately, he can simply buy the talent from the appropriate tree.

I think its important to note that droids in Star Wars usually have really, really bad mechanical problems during adventures. In Ep, 4 R2 gets ionized and then later gets his head blown off by a TIE fighter while 3PO loses an arm during the Sandpeople attack on Luke. Ep 5, R2 is eaten (and spit out) and 3PO is blown into parts. Ep 6 R2 is once again shot trying to open a door and all hit gadgets pop out. Etc.

I like the idea of droid players but a player RPing one needs to understand that something bad happening to his wolverine claws in his arms is very likely. A droid isn't living so most beings don't mind causing it some damage especially if it is threatening. Depending on your timeframe and setting, there is also a history of fear of armed droids in the galaxy.

So, I'd let him do it but warn him of the "interesting" storylines that could result. (With an evil laugh of course) I think it could definitely bring some fun into the game.

From a rules standpoint, I say the only way is to have him take the Quick Draw feat talent. There aren't any rules for having droids with hard points or specific rules for modding them, as there have been in previous editions of the Star Wars RPG. Which is actually nice, as it prevents droid characters from getting too powerful yet still enjoying the advantages droids have as species traits.

As for why the installed claws would be a maneuver to unsheathe rather than an incidental? It could be a problem with how the mod interacts with the droid's heuristic processor. It could be there are some security protocols which need to be unlocked before the claws can come out. Come up with the reason most appropriate to your droid, and then have him or her buy the Quick Draw talent as a way of overcoming the problem.

Keep in mind that you gain very few special abilities as a Droid, game mechanically you're a regular PC who just happens to be a Droid , and any abilities like night vision or communications, or abilities covered by a Talents etc. need to be purchased just like any other PC. They can be counted as "part" of you but they still must be purchased. If you don't treat Droids PCs as every other PC race (at least mechanically) it won't be fair to the non Droid PCs.

I don't have the book in front of me but in the case of the hidden weapon you can use the cybernetic limb rules and just re-skin it as your Droid's limb.

Edit: Pg 174 - Cybernetic Weapon - The standard cybernetic weapon arm appears to be a regular arm but features a retractable (in this case Lt. Blaster but it could be a vibro knife) that can be deployed as an incidental (action).

The cost, pg 182, is 4000. So use this as the way for your Droid PC to get what they want.

Droids have implant cap of 6 per p.47. So, cybernetic arms could have them that's why I say he'll lose one of his 6 hard points. My opinion on GMing is that if the player dreams up a reasonable tech idea then it should be possible especially in a narrative driven game. If you only follow what's in the books now, then you limit yourself and your players. Even the rulebook they state that some of these can be bent in order to enhance the gameplay.

As a GM, allowing the player to create his character is much better than forcing him into a unwanted class. You can easily up the Obligation for him personally creating a narrative. A droid is equipment NOT a person and this request is no different than a PC character asking for a carbine with a weapon sling mod (p193 giving quick draw) with the money he got with increasing his obligation.

If you roll his Obligation or just use it for a story, his claws get him and the party into trouble... fun happens. If later you as the GM decide he's getting to "powerful", he could lose those arms though I doubt having quick draw on vibroclaws is going to break the game mechanics.

Edit: Concealment might be a different issue though. I don't think he should get any bonus.

I understand your point but a Droid PC is a PC not equipment and as such must be treated as one within the RAW, to not do so is unfair to the Players that choose other races to play. If you see this you'll find everything the OP is asking for is already laid out in the RAW, Cybernetic Weapon being the pertinent example (which BTW you won't need Quick Draw for because "drawing" the weapon in this case is an Incidental action).

We're on the same page. I only meant the droid as equipment as a way of looking and treating him as a species in the universe from a story standpoint. On the same note though you have to be careful that droids aren't disadvantaged either because other races can whip out like scanner goggles, binoculars, etc that a droid may not really have because of its role. R2 didn't have arms to use those kinds of items but was still equipped with similar tools.

We're on the same page. I only meant the droid as equipment as a way of looking and treating him as a species in the universe from a story standpoint. On the same note though you have to be careful that droids aren't disadvantaged either because other races can whip out like scanner goggles, binoculars, etc that a droid may not really have because of its role. R2 didn't have arms to use those kinds of items but was still equipped with similar tools.

Fair enough. Actually a Droid can have any type of equipment any other PC could have and even have it built in, scanner goggles etc. You just have to purchase them and have them "implanted". They couldn't be dropped but they would still be effected by Disarm etc. results, you just have to narrate it as something got knocked out of alignment and needs to be adjusted before it could be used, taking the same amount of actions to pick up as would a PC that was holding whatever it was that was disarmed. R2 was equipped with a "Tool Kit" only it was internal rather than in a pack.