#planescape
Image © Wizards of the Coast, by Julie Dillon
[In 1e through 3e, there were alternate versions of some of the modron drones. Winged monodrones had no arms, and quadrones either had two wings and two arms, or four arms and no wings. These have been flattened out by 5e, using the art by Julie Dillon that first appeared in Dragon 354. I’m fine with that, so my monodrones will have both arms and wings.]
Modron, Monodrone
CR 1 LN Outsider (extraplanar)
This small metallic creature has a spherical body and spindly arms and legs. A pair of small wings grows from its upper surface. It has a single large eye overlooking a fleshy mouth.
Monodrones are the simplest, weakest and most numerous of the modrons. They exist in teeming millions, serving the will of Primus as laborers, servants and foot soldiers. A monodrone is single minded in its focus and monomaniacal in its efforts—a monodrone told to dig will do so until its shovel breaks or it destroys itself in the act if not ordered to stop. In a factory or other regulated environment, this allows a monodrone to function with incredible efficiency at one very particular subset of a task. Modron engineering is designed around mass production, and enormous quantities of monodrones help to manufacture and assemble weapons, armor and tools at a staggering rate. However, in chaotic environments such as on a battlefield, or when faced with creatures not as perfectly devoted to order, monodrones require intense supervision to make sure they don’t injure themselves or others.
Monodrones typically flee from aggression, even harsh words, in order to report the altercation to a superior capable of analyzing and making decisions. If ordered to fight, a monodrone brings its obsessive zeal to combat, to the point that they can only attack a single foe at a time. A monodrone cannot switch targets without being told so by a superior modron. They are implacable in their attempt to destroy their focused target, so much so that they can overclock themselves and attack or give chase past their bodies’ normal capacity. Monodrones can fly, but are clumsy in the air and rarely use this ability on the battlefield (unless, of course, they are ordered to). Monodrones, like most drone modrons, are willing to fight to the death once battle is joined.
Monodrones have no individual personalities, functioning more like cells in a body in their utter pursuit of their tasks. They do not even have specific numerical designations, but they may be referred to by their unit or superior (typically a tridrone or quadrone in rank). They almost never communicate directly with non-modrons.
Monodrone CR 1
XP 400
LN Small outsider (extraplanar, lawful, modron)
Init11 (fixed); Sensesdarkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception +6
Defense
AC13, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+1 size, +1 Dex, +1 natural)
hp15 (1d10 plus 10)
Fort+0,Ref+3,Will+2
Resistacid 10, cold 10, fire 10
Defensive Abilities constructed;Weaknesssingle minded
Offense
Speed20 ft., fly 40 ft. (poor)
Meleeslam +3 (1d3-1) or short sword +3 (1d4-1/19-20)
Rangedlight crossbow +3 (1d6/19-20)
Special Attacks focused action
Statistics
Str8,Dex13,Con10,Int4,Wis10,Cha3
Base Atk +1;CMB-1;CMD10
FeatsWeapon Finesse
SkillsCraft (any one) +5, Fly +3, Perception +6; Racial Modifiers +4 Craft (any one), +2 Perception
LanguagesModron
SQcoordinated ally, fixed initiative, relay message
Ecology
Environmentany land or underground (Regulus)
Organizationsolitary, pair, patrol (3-12) or army (13-144)
Treasurestandard (Small short sword, Small light crossbow, 20 bolts, other treasure)
Special Abilities
Focused Action (Su) Once per day, a monodrone can take an extra move or standard action in its turn, as long as it is exactly the same action as it took immediately prior. For example, it could move and then make two short sword attacks, or move twice and take one short sword attack, but could not move, attack once and then move again.
Relay Message (Ex) A monodrone can retain and recite perfectly a verbal message or any other sound of 1 minute or shorter in duration. It does not need to understand the message in order to relay it. This cannot be used to cast a spell, even one with only a verbal component.
Single Minded (Ex) A monodrone can only focus on a single task at a time. When in combat, it only attacks a single foe unless ordered to stop or change targets. This means that it always fights until slain if not ordered to retreat, and can only make attacks of opportunity against the target it is focusing on.
