fabricats

Fabricats are a type of fictional entity that appear in the tabletop role-playing game Shadowrun. They are essentially living, bio-engineered constructs, often created for specific purposes such as combat, labor, or espionage. Unlike traditional robots, fabricats are not purely mechanical; they possess organic components, making them appear more like biological organisms despite their artificial origin.

The creation of fabricats involves advanced genetic engineering and biomancy, allowing their creators to imbue them with unique abilities and characteristics tailored to their intended function. This can range from enhanced strength and resilience for combat fabricats to stealth capabilities and specialized sensory organs for espionage units. Their organic nature also means they can exhibit behaviors that mimic those of natural creatures, sometimes to the point of appearing sentient.

However, fabricats are not considered truly alive in the conventional sense. They are programmed and directed by their creators, and while they may display complex behaviors, they lack true consciousness or free will. The ethical implications of creating and deploying fabricats are a recurring theme within the Shadowrun universe, raising questions about artificial life, sentience, and the morality of their use. They are often controlled through implanted cyberware or remote commands, and their maintenance typically involves specialized biological and mechanical care.