The ER-1 Probe Droid

More Secrets of Naboo

By Steve Miller

In the months following the expulsion of the Trade Federation's occupation force from Naboo, the Human and Gungan inhabitants undertook several projects geared toward bringing their two peoples closer together. One of these projects involved an effort to create a complete map of the many tunnels that run below the planet's landmasses and ocean floors. Headed by Queen Amidala's Master of Sciences Graf Zapalo, this endeavor may prove the first step in unlocking the astrophysical secret of Naboo's existence -- the world is unique in the galaxy in that it has no molten core, but instead a porous, plasma-rich interior. One of the primary tools in the mapping efforts is the ER-1 model of probe droid. Assisting Zapalo in its development are a Naboo husband-and-wife droid-designer team, who had retired to their homeworld after decades on the staff of Serv-O-Droid.

The ER-1 is motivated by repulsor lifts. It is built to operate under extreme temperatures and pressure conditions and is outfitted with miniaturized versions of the latest sensor, recording, and communications devices. It carries with it two dozen miniaturized, deployable biosensors and a second package of repulsor-motivated sensor and recording equipment slaved to the main unit. The biosensors, designed for short-term use only, are typically not retrieved once the droid has released them. However, the remote sensor platform can be retrieved and dispatched an unlimited number of times during a droid's mission. All data collected by these remotes is transmitted back to the droid, analyzed, and relayed to the droid's masters via subspace. This allows the ER-1 to explore twice the amount of territory that more conventional probe droids can cover. The remote biosensors also allow for a broader, and thus more accurate, sample of data in the droid's general surroundings. Finally, the droid comes equipped with a stun rifle blaster so it can subdue wildlife for close examination.

The ER-1 probe droid remains a cutting-edge technological marvel in the waning days of the Old Republic. Zapalo and his team oversaw the construction of four ER-1 droids. ER-1A, ER-1B, and ER-1D were used to map Naboo's oceanic tunnels, while ER-1C proved invaluable in the colonization efforts of Naboo's primary moon. Like the Naboo N-1 Starfighter, the delicate components of the ER-1 model have to be hand-assembled by skilled craftsmen to make the droid truly effective. As a result, few will ever be built, and even fewer will be offered for sale. Serv-O-Droid has expressed interest in the design, even though millions of research and development credits would have to be spent to create more sophisticated mass-production techniques.

ER-1 Series: Hovering exploration droid, Scout 2; Init +0; Defense 14 (+4 class); Spd 12m; VP/WP 12/12; +0 melee (1d6, claw), +1 range (3d6 stun only, stun blaster rifle); SQ Trailblazing, Bio-Sensors, Remote Sensor Platform; SV Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +4; SZ M; Rep 0; Str 8, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 6. Challenge Code A.
Equipment: Stun blaster, heuristic processor, improved sensor package, infrared vision, low-light vision, telescopic vision, sonic sensors, comlink, recording unit, environmental compensation (heat, cold, water), rust inhibitor, 24 biosensors, remote sensor platform. Skills: Demolitions +6, Hide +4, Knowledge (life sciences) +8, Knowledge (physical sciences) +8, Listen +10, Search +10, Spot +12, Survival +6
Feats: Track, Weapon Group Proficiency (blaster rifles)
Unspent Skill Points: 0
Special Qualities: Bio-sensors (24) -- provides droid with +4 to Listen, Search, and Spot checks while it is within 2 km of one or more biosensors. Each sensor operates for three hours before its power pack ceases to function. Once all biosensors have been deployed, the droid has internal storage space of 10 kg.
Remote Sensor Platform -- gives the droid a second set of skill checks in a different place, as far as 10 km away. This platform has the same skill checks and saving throws as the droid. Cost: 22,000 credits

Use the ER-1C droid on the Naboo/Gungan lunar research facility in Steve Miller's adventure "Peril in the Ionosphere". Check it out only in Star Wars Gamer issue 1!

Find out more about the tunnels under Naboo seas in Secrets of Naboo.