Pop Creature - The Geth

"We are all geth."

Legion, from Mass Effect 2.

That line, spoken by the character Legion, from the video game Mass Effect 2 is now among some of my favorite lines in science-fiction. The wonderfully produced Mass Effect series introduced me to the swarm-intelligence of the geth. While they are, on the surface, analogues for a lot of Sci-Fi's most notorious robotic antagonists, the geth maintain a unique design aesthetic while drawing you into their society. Your window into their struggle for independence, acceptance, and individuality is through Legion, a geth designed to interact with and observe organics, capable of operating on his own instead of amid the hive-like machine intelligence of his networked people. Legion gives us a view into a wholly alien mindset, and one that is difficult to shake years after the fact.

Today's Pop Creature is one of those things that's been rattling around in my head for a good, long while. It's also one of the most singularly challenging entries I've done yet. Converting a race of intelligent constructs with a swarm-based intelligence into the Pathfinder rules set wound up being a lot more to chew on that I anticipated, and this entry you're reading was initially intended to be the introductory Pop Creature article, but was put on the back burner when I realized how much of an undertaking it had become.

The introduction of the robot subtype in the Inner Sea Bestiary helped pave the way for this article. While the geth still were a tricky act to pull off, James Jacobs' creation helped set the expectations for how robots should behave in Pathfinder. While the geth remained a challenge thanks to the way the Intelligence score is linked with skill ranks and skill ranks with hit dice, I had a solid foundation to start with.

After the jump, there's a wealth of geth-related information, from the geth subtype to individual stats of geth units ready to be inserted into your Pathfinder games to surprise and antagonize. Later on, I intend on designing a playable geth race using the rules from the Advanced Race Guide, but that's a little ways down the road from here.

For now, take a while to enjoy the geth and let me know in the comments what you think of the geth subtype and the mechanics for swarm intelligence.

Geth Subtype

"Geth" is a special subtype of construct that possesses the robot subtype. Geth are highly advanced robots that utilize a networked consciousness to increase their own collective intelligence. Geth, as individuals, do not possess capability for problem solving or higher thought. But as more geth are present in one location their swarm intelligence increases granting them the ability to fully access the programmed knowledge built into their systems. All geth gain the following traits, unless noted otherwise.

Swarm Intelligence (Ex) A geth's Intelligence score is a function of how many geth platforms are present at one time. While geth may communicate over vast distances with their machine telepathy, the benefit of shared computational power when not directly engaged in the same environment is limited. Therefore, geth only gain a bonus to their Intelligence scores based on the number of geth within 500 feet.

Consult the table below to determine the number of geth in range and adjust the geth's intelligence scores accordingly.

Number of Geth	Intelligence Score	Skill Penalty	Bonus Feats
1	1	-15	0
2-5	10	-10	1
6-10	20	-5	2
11+	30	0	3

As a swarm intelligence, geth do not utilize skills or feats as normal creatures do. A standard geth has access to a set number of skills based on its maximum potential base Intelligence, detailed under the individual creature's skills entry. These skills represent an average of the myriad knowledge base programmed into the hundred units of software contained in their mobile platforms. However, while apart from other geth, a singular geth unit takes a penalty to all skill checks.

Furthermore, each type of geth creature gains pre-determined bonus feats as they are encountered with more of their own kind as outlined on the above table. The specific bonus feats are listed under each individual geth's entry.

Integrated Weapon Mastery (Ex) A geth utilizes its integrated weapons with expert proficiency, adding their Dexterity modifier to all damage rolls with integrated ranged weapons within the first range increment.

Machine Telepathy (Ex) Geth communicate by means of technological telepathy designed into their construct bodies as a means of allowing their conglomerate programs to communicate with other Geth. This means of communication allows Geth to convey complicated concepts instantaneously and have conversations at the speed of light.

Self Repair (Ex) A geth's nanites heal it of damage at the rate of a number of hit points per hour equal to its Hit Dice.

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Geth Trooper CR 4
Six feet tall and composed of sleek, organic-looking mechanical components, this robot has the posture of a human with haunched, dog-like legs. Its head and neck are one long, sinuous appendage covered by a hood of metal sheathing covering a single, glowing lens for an eye. It carries an unusual firearm into battle that appears to be made of black metal with internal lighting.

A Geth Trooper from Mass Effect

XP 1,200

N medium construct (robot, geth)

Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +16

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 Defense

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AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +4 natural)

hp 51 (2d10+20 plus 20 hp force field)

Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +2

Immune construct traits

Weaknesses vulnerable to critical hits, vulnerable to electricity

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Offense

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Speed 30 ft.

Melee 2 slams +6 (1d4+4)

Ranged Integrated plasma rifle +5 ranged touch (1d10+3 plasma)

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Statistics

Str 18, Dex 16, Con —, Int 1, Wis 15, Cha 9

Base Atk +2; CMB +9; CMD 22

Feats Point-Blank Shot 

Skills Knowledge (engineering) +15, Perception +16, Profession (soldier) +13

SQ Integrated Weapon Mastery, Machine Telepathy, Self Repair, Swarm Intelligence

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Ecology

Environment Any

Organization solitary, squad (5-8), or legion (10-20)

Bonus Feats (Ex) A geth trooper's bonus feat choices are Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, and Deadly Aim.

Plasma Rifle (Ex) The integrated plasma rifle interfaces with a geth's mechanical components to power critical systems and assist in cooling. A geth trooper's plasma rifle never runs out of ammo, but after sequential firings must be given time to cool down. Each time the geth plasma rifle is fired, it gains 1 point of heat generation. For every round the rifle is not fired, it loses 2 points of heat generation. If the geth plasma rifle ever reaches 20 points of heat generation, it overheats. If a geth plasma rifle overheats, its wielder must make a Fortitude save (DC 15) or be staggered for a round from the heat discharge through its systems. The rifle must then cool down for 1 minute before being able to be fired again and is restored to 0 points of heat generation.

As a plasma weapon, the geth plasma rifle's projectiles are touch attacks and deal half electricity damage and half fire damage. A geth plasma rifle has a range increment of 100 feet and weight 4 lbs.

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Geth Ghost CR 8
This tall, long-limbed robot is made of sleek, organic-looking components. It walks on all fours like an animal and possesses startling speed and agility. From its central, hooded eye, it projects a sweeping beam of red light that scans the battlefield.

A Geth Ghost from Mass Effect

XP 4,800

N medium construct (robot, geth)

Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +14

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Defense

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AC 22, touch 17, flat-footed 14 (+7 Dex, +4 natural, +1 dodge)

hp 98 (7d10+20 plus 40 hp force field)

Fort +2, Ref +9, Will +6

Immune construct traits

Weaknesses vulnerable to critical hits, vulnerable to electricity

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Offense

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Speed 40 ft.

Melee 2 slams +6 (1d4+4)

Ranged Integrated laser optics +14 ranged touch (2d10+7 fire)

Special Attacks AI hacking, barrier drain, overload, sneak attack +6d6

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Statistics

Str 18, Dex 25, Con —, Int 1, Wis 18, Cha 9

Base Atk +7; CMB +14; CMD 28

Feats Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Deadly Aim 

Skills Acrobatics +34, Climb +14, Disable Device +17, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +20, Knowledge (geography) +20, Knowledge (history) +20, Knowledge (nature) +20, Knowledge (engineering) +20, Knowledge (local) +20, Perception +14, Stealth +14, Sense Motive +14 

SQ Integrated Weapon Mastery, Machine Telepathy, Self Repair, Swarm Intelligence, Tactical Cloak

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Ecology

Environment Any

Organization solitary, squad (5-8), or assassination (10-20)

AI Hacking (Ex) As a standard action a geth ghost may target any construct with the robot subtype within 100 feet and attempt to assume control of it. If the target of AI Hacking fails a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 geth ghost HD + geth ghost Int mod) it acts as if under the effect of dominate monster with a caster level equal to the geth ghost's HD.

Agile Combatant (Ex) Geth ghosts have a +20 racial bonus to Acrobatics checks and may make Acrobatics checks to jump as if they always had a running start.

Barrier Drain (Ex) As a standard action a Geth ghost may target a creature with an active force field. The target of barrier drain must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 geth ghost HD + geth ghost Int mod) or have their force field take 2 points of damage per point of the geth ghost's intelligence modifier. All damage dealt to a force field in this manner is transferred to the geth's own forcefield hp and may raise their force field's total hp over its normal maximum. Excess hp gained in this fashion are lost at a rate of 1 point per round.

Bonus Feats: A geth ghost's bonus feat choices are Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, and Run.

Tactical Cloak (Ex) As a swift action a geth ghost may become invisible for one round as if affected by vanish.

Laser Optics (Ex) A geth ghost's eye is an integrated laser rifle. This weapon has a range increment of 250 feet. 

Overload (Ex) As a standard action a geth ghost may target a creature within 30 feet and generate an electric pulse around their body. A creature targeted by overload suffers 1d6 points of electricity damage per geth ghost HD to a maximum of 6d6. A successful Reflex save halves this damage. If used on a target with a force field, overload inflicts its damage total on both the force field hp and the target's hp equally.

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Geth Prime CR 15
Towering over twice as tall as others of its kind at twelve feet tall, this orgaic-looking robot is covered in thick red armor plating and has three glowing lenses shining the same color from beneath the crown of its hooded head. A low, sonorous hum emits from the construct as it moves, and the firearm it carries looks more like a cannon barely containing a bolt of lightning in the barrel.

A Geth Prime from Mass Effect 3

XP 51,200

N Large construct (robot, geth)

Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +14

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Defense

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AC 30, touch 17, flat-footed 23 (+7 Dex, +13 natural)

hp 215 (20d10+30 plus 75 hp force field)

Fort +6, Ref +13, Will +14

Immune construct traits

Weaknesses vulnerable to critical hits, vulnerable to electricity

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Offense

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Speed 40 ft.

Melee 2 slams +35 (1d6+15)

Ranged Integrated pulse cannon +28/+23/+18/+13 ranged touch (10d10+7 plasma)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Special Attacks Rockets, Combat Drone

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Statistics

Str 40, Dex 25, Con —, Int 1, Wis 26, Cha 9

Base Atk +7; CMB +14; CMD 28

Feats Point-blank shot, precise shot, deadly aim, rapid shot, shot on the run, power attack, weapon focus (pulse cannon), snap shot, improved snap shot, greater snap shot

Skills Acrobatics +34, Climb +14, Disable Device +17, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +20, Knowledge (geography) +20, Knowledge (history) +20, Knowledge (nature) +20, Knowledge (engineering) +20, Knowledge (local) +20, Perception +14, Stealth +14, Sense Motive +14 

SQ Augmented Integrated Weaponry, Integrated Weapon Mastery, Machine Telepathy, Self Repair, Superior Force Field, Swarm Intelligence, Tactical Cloak, 

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Ecology

Environment Any

Organization solitary, squad (5-8), or command column (10-20)

Bonus Feats: A geth prime's bonus feat choices are Improved Bull Rush, Combat Reflexes and Improved Critical (pulse cannon).

Augmented Integrated Weaponry (Ex) A geth prime's integrated weapons may not be used in conjunction with natural attacks and may instead be used with iterative attacks.

Combat Drone (Ex) As a move action a geth prime may deploy a combat drone into an unoccupied, adjacent square. A combat drone is a small-sized force effect that acts on the geth prime's turn, similar to the effects of a spiritual weapon spell. The geth prime may direct the combat drone as a free action to move up to 50 feet per round, but the combat drone must remain within 100 feet of the geth prime or be dismissed. Any creature beginning their turn adjacent to a combat drone suffers 6d6 points of electricity damage. A Reflex save DC 20 + geth prime Int mod halves this damage. Once deployed, a combat drone lasts for 1 minute before being dismissed. A combat drone has the stats of a small animated object with the robot and geth subtypes and a fly speed of 30 feet and perfect maneuverability.

Coordinated Attacks (Ex) A geth prime boosts the combat effectiveness of all constructs with the geth subtype within 30 feet. All geth within the area gain a +5 competence bonus on attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws and skill checks.

Tactical Cloak (Ex) As a swift action a geth prime may become invisible for one round as if affected by vanish.

Rockets (Ex) As a standard action, a geth prime can fire up to three rockets to a range of 800 feet. Each rocket explodes on impact in a 30-foot-radius burst, dealing 6d6 points of fire damage and 6d6 points of bludgeoning damage to all creatures in the area. A Reflex save DC 20 + geth prime Int mod halves this damage. A geth prime carries a maximum of ten rockets. Its core can replenish fired rockets at the rate of one per 12 hours, crafting new rockets from scrap metal and other collected components used in the construction process. 

Superior Force Field (Ex) A geth prime's force field has fast healing 30.

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Open Content: The game mechanics of this game product are Open Game Content, as defined in the Open Gaming License version 1.0a Section 1(d).