Intelligent Toys [Ultratech]

[AlexanderHowl]

While Ultratech gives examples of robotic toys, they are only 2" tall (SM-9), so they do not represent the large action figures that will likely remain popular among children. Other common sizes for action figures range from 3" (SM-8) to 12" (SM-5). Weight would range from 1/64 lb (SM-9) to 1 lb (SM-5).

At TL10, Tiny Computers have Complexity 5. With Biocomputer, Compact, Genius, and High Capacity, they can reach Complexity 7 and are capable of running Complexity 8 AI programs (IQ 10). While they would cost a minimum of $200,000, they could function as really subtle spies (as long as they could regularly recharge).

So, how would you use intelligent toys? Would you have them as top end toys for the elite? Would you have them functioning as small military tools?

[johndallman]

Small children are far too good at breaking things for these to become popular as toys, even among the families that wouldn't turn a hair at the price. A dumb and cheap mini-robot, wirelessly controlled by the house AI, makes far more sense.

As spies, they're quite expensive and much easier to spot than surveillance dust. Just because you can build something, that doesn't make it a good idea.

[David Johnston2]

Surveillance dust has no memory. The kind of people who who would have to worry about such things as expensive toy spies would have easy countermeasures against it in their homes ranging from disinfection at the door to just blocking or detecting it's communication with the outside world. A spy toy would have more communication options and could wait for an opportunity. At the same time however the design is probably smarter than is practical or necessary.

[AlexanderHowl]

Of course, but it is intelligence that allows an entity to deal with the unexpected. At TL10, a Tiny Computer with Biocomp has only Complexity 5, which allows for only a SAI of IQ 6, which means that they really only have a 10% chance of dealing with unexpected emergencies. Of course, enough of them being released in an enemy city will be effective just because of probability, but it greatly increases their risk of detection (and the deployment of effective countermeasures by the enemy).

[Kale]

Actually small groups could utilize mesh intelligence and get an IQ bonus when working together. Advanced countermeasures would make this increasingly difficult to use, but against less prepared or lower TL opponents they could be quite effective.

[Flyndaran]

Reenact the movie, Small Soldiers?

[dcarson]

There was a early Dragon magazine cover on this. https://www.rpg.net/pictures/show-pic.phtml?picid=11610

Could make a interesting Christmas one shot.

[Apollonian]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

So, how would you use intelligent toys? Would you have them as top end toys for the elite? Would you have them functioning as small military tools?

Use them as PCs for a rather odd post-apocalyptic game.

[Mark Skarr]

The last thing I want are my minis telling me I'm playing the game wrong.

[AlexanderHowl]

Originally Posted by Apollonian

Use them as PCs for a rather odd post-apocalyptic game.

That could be a hilarious game. A bunch of 1' tall intelligent toys trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic setting. Perhaps they are the last survivors of a failed Singularity Event and are trying to avoid the humans who are attempting to annihilate every SAI in existence. Or, alternatively, they could be defending children behind enemy lines during a delayed Singularity Event (humans are destroying AI Gods with orbital weapons as soon as they manifest, but the fragments that infected other SAIs are still fighting humans on the ground).