08-10-2012, 08:32 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Massachusetts
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[Build Advice] AI as PC
For an upcoming cyberpunk game, one of my players wants to play an AI who will function as the party's hacker, specifically focused on subverting and controlling enemy systems. The hacking part's easy; it's clearly a specialized Possession. Arguments can also be made for specialized Clairsentience and the like, to represent dominating security cameras, etc.
The part I'm not sure about is the best way to model a sentient program as a PC. The player has agreed that, to prevent overpowering the character, the AI's starting capacities will be limited, and I've suggested he have a "primary" housing at game start...but how does that work? Even if his code is currently in the cash register of the local 7-11, the AI itself is bodiless. It's not easy to figure out how to stat up a non-corporeal electronic entity, or even how to stat up the mainframe/vending machine/computerized minivan/whatever that he's housed in at the moment. I turn to the wisdom of the Fora for suggestions. What do you guys think? |
08-10-2012, 08:36 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Southeast NC
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Re: [Build Advice] AI as PC
I would strongly suggest you pick up GURPS Transhuman Space: Changing Times. It features, among other things, the best (IMO) rules for building an AI that isn't hardwired to a specific body. Also, really good AI templates.
Of course, you may need to adapt if your tech assumptions are significantly different from TS, but it should be a very solid start.
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RyanW - Actually one normal sized guy in three tiny trenchcoats. |
08-10-2012, 08:44 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Massachusetts
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Re: [Build Advice] AI as PC
Well, my world is meant to be more Deus Ex: Human Revolution than THS, and only as far ahead as 2050, but that does sound like a good book to consider. I'll have to look it over.
For the record, I'm planning to start the campaign on the comparatively low-point side (175+75 disads, for a possible 250); are THS AI generally much more expensive than that would allow? |
08-10-2012, 09:11 AM | #4 | |
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Southeast NC
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Re: [Build Advice] AI as PC
Quote:
In short, you treat the highest point cost body the AI has regular access to as the AI's primary body, and the others as Ally+Puppet.
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RyanW - Actually one normal sized guy in three tiny trenchcoats. |
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08-10-2012, 10:27 AM | #6 | |
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Massachusetts
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Re: [Build Advice] AI as PC
Quote:
I suppose that may change over time. In the event that the character acquires a higher-cost body later on, do you re-calibrate the whole build based on that? The player also suggested that we should look into Spirit templates, to see if there's a way to represent how an AI functions if it's "free-floating" in the Net or such, though I haven't found any suitable comparisons yet. I bought the issue, but I haven't given it a detailed read yet. I plan to, though. |
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08-10-2012, 10:34 AM | #7 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Re: [Build Advice] AI as PC
Quote:
Representing a cinematic "free in cyberspace" AI as an immaterial spirit with no normal senses and a lot of digital remote possession type abilities would probably be fairly appropriate.
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I don't know any 3e, so there is no chance that I am talking about 3e rules by accident. |
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08-10-2012, 12:32 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Southeast NC
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Re: [Build Advice] AI as PC
Most TS AIs have a "body" somewhere, even if it is just a box in a closet. Having no arms, no legs, and only a few hours before shutting down if you lose power connection gets back a lot of the points you spend on your AI capabilities. However, anyone armed with a screwdriver and the knowledge of where you live can murder you with relative ease.
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RyanW - Actually one normal sized guy in three tiny trenchcoats. |
08-10-2012, 01:18 PM | #9 |
Computer Scientist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Dallas, Texas
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Re: [Build Advice] AI as PC
AIs typically combine two templates: one for the mind, one for the body. If it can transfer to new hardware, be ready to swap the body template. The listed TS informorph templates include some pricey AI features, but the body template can easily be a low or even rather negative value proposition, so it can fairly join a group of moderate level adventurers.
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08-10-2012, 06:02 PM | #10 |
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Los Angeles
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Re: [Build Advice] AI as PC
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Tags |
advice, artificial intelligence, build, cyberpunk |
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