The Scientist Dalek

A write-up of the Scientist Dalek from Tyranny of the Daleks.  This is using the second edition rules for the Doctor Who Roleplaying Game from Cubicle 7.

SCIENTIST DALEK

Scientist Dalek in the base on Tarack

Concept: Research-Class Unit of the Second Dalek Empire

Focus: Superior Science

Homeworld: Skaro

Tech level: 9

Short-term goal: Exterminate!

Long-term goal: Exterminate!

Awareness 4, Coordination 3,

Ingenuity 6, Presence 2,

Resolve 3, Strength 5

Skills: Conflict 1, Medicine 4, Knowledge 5, Science 9 (*specialisation), Technology 9

* Usually a Scientist Dalek will have a Science specialisation of one type or another, typically astrophysics, planetary science, biology, chemistry, genetics, nuclear science and so forth.  Some pursue more exotic fields of scientific study.

Speed: Normal travelling speed is Slow and cannot increase its speed beyond this level without spending Story Points.  The Scientist Dalek cannot fly or hover.

Distinctions: Dalek - its mutated body is housed in a thin layer of Dalekanium, reducing damage by 5, and protected by a forcefield that reduces the effects of projectile weapons by one stage (those shooting at it will have their result reduced for example from Success to Barely, or Almost to Failure). It can survive in space or underwater. It can also interface with technology, and, if necessary, self-destruct (3/6/9 damage in a 10m radius).  

Weapon: Exterminator (3/L/L) - The Scientist Dalek weapon is slightly less powerful than the usual.

Story Points: 5

Equipment:

Integrated Tool Appendages:

A standard Scientist Dalek has eight appendages . Typical appendages include the following:

Data probe - Interfaces with computers, alien databases, and ship systems and reduces Difficulty level to Technology or Knowledge rolls involving digital systems, decryption, or alien data formats by 3. May spend 1 Story Point to instantly extract a specific piece of data, provided access is granted.

Auto-syringe Injector - For injections, gene-editing, or chemical analysis and reduces Difficulty level to Medicine rolls when treating or experimenting on biological life forms by 3. May use in close combat as a single-target attack (Coordination + Medicine vs. opponent’s Coordination + Athletics). On success, the target’s Strength is Injured as per Conditions for 1d6 rounds, or such other Condition as the Gamemaster decides such as hallucinating.

Laser scalpel - Precision cutting tool for surgical, dissection or scientific purposes, Reduces Difficulty level of Medicine, Science, or Technology rolls by 3. In combat, at effectively hand-to-hand range, it  can act as a low-power energy weapon. (2/4/6) damage, ignores 2 points of physical Armour through heat damage. 

Plasma cutting and welding torch - Heavy‑duty industrial cutter & fuser. A less precise instrument than the Laser Scalpel, this appendage emits a focused plasma arc beam capable of melting or fusing most known alloys; doubles as a micro‑forge for on‑the‑spot fabrication. Can also be used to heat scientific samples as a burner, especially if held by the Digital Manipulator Claw. 

Distinction - Unlock/Seal - can only be used to cut metallic objects including doors, bulkheads or armour plating, or to seal them up again. If the Scientist Dalek engages in building a Temporary Gadget (see page 119 of the Second Edition), the use of the Plasma Torch reduces the Difficulty of the Ingenuity + Technology roll in jury-rigging a temporary gadget by 3.  Can be treated as a short‑range energy weapon in close combat. Damage is (4/6/8); ignores 3 points of physical Armour due to heat damage, but can overheat; on a roll of double 1s the torch powers down for one round.May spend 1 Story Point instead of rolling damage to inflict the “Sealed In/Sealed Out” narrative effect—welding a hatch, bulkhead, or armour joint shut instantly (Gamemaster discretion for size). 

Special: Generates intense light; any adjacent target, including anyone in close combat with the Scientist Dalek, not wearing appropriate eye protection must make an Awareness + Resolve v 12 test or be dazzled (lose 4 Awareness points).

Magnetic Claw - Magnetic manipulator used for lifting heavy metallic materials or retrieving metal objects. Grants +2 to Strength-based rolls involving lifting, retrieving, or anchoring magnetic or metallic equipment that is subject to magnetism. Can be used to remotely disarm or pull metallic objects (such as swords, metal guns etc) out of someone's grasp with a successful Strength + Conflict v opponent’s Strength + Athletics roll.

Universal Manipulator (Plunger) - Classic Dalek interface and utility tool. Adaptable to various interfaces and tech.Provides no additional mechanical bonus, but counts as having the appropriate tool for virtually any Technology, Engineering, or Security roll.

Multi-Interface Sensor Probe - Scanning probe for environmental, biological, or material analysis. Distinction: Scan - reduces Difficulty to Science or Awareness rolls by 3 when analysing surroundings, energy signatures, unknown substances and so forth.

Digital Manipulator Claw - Multi‑jointed, micro‑servo “hand” for ultra‑fine tasks. The Scientist Dalek uses this when it needs to perform feats of precision handling or articulation no bulky casing should logically allow, from threading nanoscale wiring to filleting a trans‑temporal parasite without rupturing its chrono‑sac. It is a gyro‑stabilised, twelve‑digit claw with nano‑scale force‑feedback. It can rotate 360°, adjust grip pressure from feather‑light to hydraulic crush, and even micro‑solder or laser‑etch at the tips.  It is normally only ever seen by non-Daleks as the "C" shaped metallic claw at the end of an arm, which is the default setting when not in use. When being used, the claw can take on a wide array of different configurations and shapes in order to carry out the work required. 

Distinction: Reduces the Difficulty level for Technology, Science, Engineering, or Subterfuge rolls by 3 that demand extreme precision (e.g., defusing a quantum bomb, tuning time machine circuits, or picking a vacuum‑sealed lock). If a Scientist Dalek has two Digital Manipulator Claws working together on one item, then any such rolls referred to above are made with Advantage.  Not all Scientists Daleks have two Digital Manipulator Claws! 

Combat Use: The Digital Manipulator Claw is not built to injure, but in close combat, if someone attacks it, a Scientist Dalek may attempt a Grapple/Disarm: roll Coordination + Conflict vs. target’s Coordination + Athletics. On success, the Dalek can seize a handheld item belonging to the target or pin a limb (target is restrained until they break free with a Strength + Athletics v Scientist Daleks’ Strength + Conflict  test). 

Special: Micro‑Assembler Mode: Spend 1 Story Point to fabricate or repair a tiny component (no larger than a matchbox) without lab equipment, provided raw materials are present. 

Stability Field: Built‑in counter‑torque gyros negate shake; the Scientist Dalek can perform fine work even during starship turbulence or minor explosions and such like; ignore up to –2 situational penalty points from environmental vibration.

Close up showing Digital Manipulator Claw

Dalek gunstick (defensive model, as above)

Additional optional equipment not part of the Scientist Dalek (unless bolted on):

Portable Laboratory Module (PLM) (Optional) 

A backpack sized module carried by support Drone Daleks or attached to a Scientist Dalek’s casing to assist in scientific work. Contains lab-grade scanning and synthesizing equipment.  

Armour : 3 Hit Capacity: 8

While the PLM is deployed (it folds out on articulated struts or plugs into local power), the user gains the following abilities:

Reduces the Difficulty level of any Science, Medicine, or Technology rolls that involve analysing, synthesising, or engineering anything smaller than a starship part by 3.

Rapid Analysis: Spend 1 Story Point to identify an unknown substance, pathogen, or energy signature in one action instead of minutes or hours.

On‑Site Fabrication: Spend 1 Story Point and succeed at an Ingenuity + Technology roll (Difficulty 15) to produce a single-use gadget or antidote that replicates any modest sized gadget (Gamemaster discretion is advisable).

Containment Field: Generates a micro‑stasis chamber able to store volatile samples safely. Anyone trying to break in must beat an Ingenuity + Technology 21 or Strength + Athletics v 18 test; failure triggers a shock field (3/5/7 damage, ignores 2 physical Armour from heat)

PLM Built‑in Sub‑Systems

Spectro‑Scanner: Auto‑succeeds on routine chemical/biological identification; still roll for advanced or alien samples.

Nano‑Synth Rack: Allows creation of basic compounds, cultures, or mechanical nanites with a successful Ingenuity + Science roll (Difficulty 12+).

Temporal Phase Comparator: Gives Advantage (roll 3d6, keep best 2) on detecting temporal anomalies within fitymetres.

Bio‑Shield Screen:  +5 Armour versus toxins, radiation, or microscopic entities while operating the lab.

Drawbacks 

Dalek Interface:  Non‑Dalek users suffer –5 on rolls until they spend at least one scene bypassing the interface with an Ingenuity + Technology v 18 roll.

Power Hunger : Without external power the bonuses drop to +1 and Rapid Analysis costs 2 Story Points after 600 rels (fifteen minutes.)

Vulnerable Hardware: If the PLM takes 5 points of damage in one scene, it shorts out, removing all bonuses until repaired (Ingenuity + Technology v 18 roll, take one hour).

Story Points: 5

Character notes

“Scientific progress must serve the will of the Emperor! Obedience is knowledge! Dissent is error!”

The Scientist Dalek is a specialist caste within the Second Dalek Empire, designed not for war but for relentless experimentation, data analysis, and technological innovation. Their blue-cased exteriors and eight versatile appendages distinguish them from standard units. These appendages include manipulators, surgical tools, scanning arrays, and the classic Dalek gunstick—more for defence than assault.

Scientist Daleks operate in advanced research stations, laboratories, and field expeditions across galaxies. Their work ranges from cloning programmes and trans-dimensional physics to biogenic weaponry and AI evolution. Though intellectually brilliant, they are not autonomous thinkers: their findings must align with the Emperor’s doctrine. Discoveries contradicting official ideology often result in ‘recalibration’... or extermination.

Scientist Dalek in the Command Battleship

In the Galen Division, there are two Scientist Daleks stationed in the base on Tarack, both of which are assigned to Project Mugati operations, carrying out biogenic experiments relating to parasitic relationships amongst life forms on Galentor and how to convert them to Dalek use.  One of the others is assigned to one of the Invasion-Class Battleships in cis-Tarack space, taking measurements and capturing samples for Project Mugati.  Finally the other two are stationed throughout Dalek operations in the Galentor system as required to service other obligations, such as those needed for astrogation and planetary observation to ensure ship safety in deep space.

 

A Scienctist Dalek addresses the Dalek Commander