AI, robots & Characters

[archhealer]

In the design sequence in the THB, it states that AI computers (Not logicomps) are treated as characters, gaining skills and classes after activation. Does this mean that one cannot install other software, and that they only recieve skills and abilities based on their class?

 

[veltyen]

It says what it says. Maybe the robot/AI TA will sort things out.

I treat it as the AI takes the space allocated. Inside here are all the skills that the AI has learned. Additional programming that adjusts attributes (such as library and personality programs) need to be integrated into this core "blob" that is the AI.

In the spare computing space (if any) other programs can be mounted, the AI can access these as easily as its own learned skills, but they still take up the allocated space and processing power. Unless hardwired these can be swapped in and out. This is a handy ability considering the cheap cost of programming in general. (Operator, could you please load the Gunnery-23 program... thank you).

 

[RickA]

Once you have set up the AI computer with its initial programs (smart money is in programing it with low ranks of many skills) there is no more loading of software into the AI. It's a character, it gains skill ranks as per the class it is taking levels in. Capacity is not a factor on the new skill levels, only on the initial skill levels.

So, if you have an AI computer that can run 10 rank 1 skills and it levels significantly it can still run all 10 of those programs. Even though they might all be Rank 10 now. The initial programing is all that is restricted like a computer, all the rest is as a character.

The lack of "growth" that AI computers get compared to the way logicomps grow implies this at the very least.

 

[archhealer]

Ok, so another robot questoin, about android/robot characters ( I know, hopefully the robots TA will answer these, but in th emeantime, my players are chomping at the bit to play robots)

Ability scores, anybody? INT, SOC, and CHA are easy to figure out, they're a programming matter, but what about STR, DEX, CON? I know machines don't have a CON score, so that's easy, but what do we use for fortitude saves when appropriate?

As far as appendages, the DEX and STR of the arms is easy, but what's the overall dex of a humanesque robot with a legged DTU? what's it's total STR? the appendages alone don't account for these scores. I have several players making valid arguements that would allow a 120vl android with str10 dex10 arms to have somewhere in the viscinity of 20 total str and 17 dex, which seems excessive.

 

[veltyen]

For overall Dex look at Agility instead (spare power for the movement drivetrain adds to AC).

Dex is limited to TL, much like Int is. While certain Operating systems (AI's for example) have a bonus to Dex that probably shouldn't be allowed to push it past the TL maximum IMHO.

Strength should probably be limited to the appendages. There are some rules for overweight carry in TA3 I think, that would make more sense for a chasis's carrying capacity. Agility and speed basically go away quite quickly when carrying overweight.

For fortitude saves, well, I tend to use rule of thumb rather then anything definite. A large number of fortitude rolls make little sense for an AI (poison, fatigue) and others I generally just have the machine auto-fail.

You may want to also get into the habit of seperating the AI and the robot that it is walking around in. These will have different stats, much like you have different stats from your car.

Lastly you haven't touched on Wis. Currently for a machine that is 0 with no way of modifying it.

Have fun, and while it seems unfair get used to saying "No" to your players, especially when playing in a not fully fleshed out section of the rules. This area requires a fair bit of handwaving to become coherent (trust me, I've gone down this path).

 

[archhealer]

Ahh, but I am an EVIL regeree, and players playing robots start with a 0 wis. Yes, I know, it's a -5 penalty to WIS skills, which is aweful, but I allow them to put their every-four-levels stat increase into it, if they want. Of course, that means that at level 8 they can reduce the penatly to only -4... Worth it? Hey, you WANTED to play a robot, remember?
Heh heh heh.