Aliens-like Synthentic?

thalcos · 02-23-2021, 07:01 PM

I'm converting the Alien RPG's Chariot of the Gods to GURPS to run as a fun horror one shot.

Does anyone have a good Alien universe synthetic template? (I can find plenty of fan conversions of xenomorphs and facehuggers, but haven't found anything to cover the synthetic androids).

the-red-scare · 02-23-2021, 08:05 PM

Seems like they’re just Ultra-Tech androids with the realistic skin option and an AI with whatever skills fit the role? I don’t recall them having any unusual features.

Rupert · 02-23-2021, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the-red-scare

Seems like they’re just Ultra-Tech androids with the realistic skin option and an AI with whatever skills fit the role? I don’t recall them having any unusual features.

That probably over-states their DR.

Tyneras · 02-23-2021, 10:25 PM

They are significantly stronger than humans, but they don't have significant DR,<strike> maybe 1 or 2 points of flexible DR.</strike> They can eat and breathe but I don't know if that's purely to fit in or if they get energy from that. They would definitely have my houserule version of Injury Tolerance: Independent Body Parts. Everything can be detached, including the head, cannot be reattached and is inanimate after being detached.

Mentally I don't know if they actually have digital minds, they could very well be analog artificial brains given how emotional they get. Definitely seem prone to developing obsessions with their mission goals. Their apparent intelligence and mental abilities seems to vary between their various appearances.

While they are definitely stronger than a human of their build, I don't think they are ST20 like the combat android. Maybe +2 to +4 ST for their build.

EDIT: They appear to have no DR to speak of, they bleed as easily as humans. They don't have IT: Unliving either, but they are immune to pain.

DangerousThing · 02-23-2021, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rupert

That probably over-states their DR.

I wouldn't have used the Combat Android, just the normal one. UT, p41.

This still has 5 DR.

Tyneras · 02-23-2021, 11:36 PM

After talking to a friend who really loves Aliens and browsing the wiki, I've come up with this.

Synth
ST: 16 HP: 16
IQ: 12 Will: 14
DX: 14 Per: 14
HT: 12 FP: N/A
Basic Speed: 7.00
Basic Move: 7

Advantages:
Immunity to Pain, Immunity to Metabolic Hazards, Photographic Memory, Digital Mind, Doesn't Eat or Drink, Doesn't Sleep, Doesn't Breath, IT: Independent Body Parts, Perk: No Pheromones, Combat Reflexes

Disadvantages
Reprogramable, Electrical, Unhealing (Total)

Skills: Skills can be assumed to be at controlling attribute +4, giving a 16 or 18. Most seem to have Karate and Knife, but lack grappling skills. Other skills depend on their task.

Features
Neither has nor uses FP, Randomized Personality Traits, 400 day power supply with 3 day recharging period. Can eat and drink but get no nutrition from it.

The lack of pheromones means xenomorphs will usually ignore them if they don't act provocatively. They hold true to their programmed directives, which can result in heroic, villainous, or erratic behavior depending on those directives. Synths lack vacuum support, and while they will not suffocate they will suffer damage in a similar manner to an unprotected human.

Synths are significantly better than the average human, but they are far from super human. They don't have Accessory: Computer because while they are an AI running on a computer, that computer seems to be used strictly as a brain for the AI and doesn't run any extra programs.

thalcos · 02-24-2021, 12:33 AM

This is perfect. I figured someone out there would know this lore better than I did :-)

Daigoro · 02-24-2021, 03:29 AM

I think Bishop doing the knife game in this clip is meant to show that he has superhuman reflexes, though I don't recall if it's demonstrated much in the rest of the movie.
https://youtu.be/hJtYFoKeh1I
So I'd be tempted to go above DX 14.
Note that he mentions he's Asimov compliant at the end, so you'd need to add Sense of Duty (Humans) and maybe Pacifism of some sort.

David can shoot hoops while riding a bicycle here, which also means a high DX, but maybe not so superhuman.
https://youtu.be/sSGsVqRU4Kg

Rolando · 02-24-2021, 06:09 AM

I think the knife trick is the result of the directives to not harm itself or humans, not a result of real skill.

It fail though, because Bishop cuts himself by accident, but it may be that even with the directives his movements are not perfect.

How to simulate it in rules may be something like higher purpose that grants a bonus if the synthetic is trying to not harm someone or itself maybe.

They also seems to have skill packages that include some tricks and entertainment, so maybe the knife trick was programmed, but no knife skill.

I think they are not supposed to use weapons of any kind and are inept at combat (as in "they are incapable of"), not real pacifists as they will not protest violence as a solution. In the comics there are combat synths though.

Not · 02-24-2021, 06:12 AM

Party tricks are a perk. If it's useful elsewhere it's probably High Manual Dexterity.

02-23-2021, 07:01 PM	#1
thalcos Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Seattle, WA	Aliens-like Synthentic? I'm converting the Alien RPG's Chariot of the Gods to GURPS to run as a fun horror one shot. Does anyone have a good Alien universe synthetic template? (I can find plenty of fan conversions of xenomorphs and facehuggers, but haven't found anything to cover the synthetic androids).

02-23-2021, 08:05 PM	#2
the-red-scare Join Date: Sep 2014	Re: Aliens-like Synthentic? Seems like they’re just Ultra-Tech androids with the realistic skin option and an AI with whatever skills fit the role? I don’t recall them having any unusual features.

02-23-2021, 10:25 PM	#4
Tyneras Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kentucky, USA	Re: Aliens-like Synthentic? They are significantly stronger than humans, but they don't have significant DR,<strike> maybe 1 or 2 points of flexible DR.</strike> They can eat and breathe but I don't know if that's purely to fit in or if they get energy from that. They would definitely have my houserule version of Injury Tolerance: Independent Body Parts. Everything can be detached, including the head, cannot be reattached and is inanimate after being detached. Mentally I don't know if they actually have digital minds, they could very well be analog artificial brains given how emotional they get. Definitely seem prone to developing obsessions with their mission goals. Their apparent intelligence and mental abilities seems to vary between their various appearances. While they are definitely stronger than a human of their build, I don't think they are ST20 like the combat android. Maybe +2 to +4 ST for their build. EDIT: They appear to have no DR to speak of, they bleed as easily as humans. They don't have IT: Unliving either, but they are immune to pain. __________________ GURPS Fanzine The Path of Cunning is worth a read. Last edited by Tyneras; 02-23-2021 at 11:14 PM.

02-23-2021, 11:36 PM	#6
Tyneras Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kentucky, USA	Re: Aliens-like Synthentic? After talking to a friend who really loves Aliens and browsing the wiki, I've come up with this. Synth ST: 16 HP: 16 IQ: 12 Will: 14 DX: 14 Per: 14 HT: 12 FP: N/A Basic Speed: 7.00 Basic Move: 7 Advantages: Immunity to Pain, Immunity to Metabolic Hazards, Photographic Memory, Digital Mind, Doesn't Eat or Drink, Doesn't Sleep, Doesn't Breath, IT: Independent Body Parts, Perk: No Pheromones, Combat Reflexes Disadvantages Reprogramable, Electrical, Unhealing (Total) Skills: Skills can be assumed to be at controlling attribute +4, giving a 16 or 18. Most seem to have Karate and Knife, but lack grappling skills. Other skills depend on their task. Features Neither has nor uses FP, Randomized Personality Traits, 400 day power supply with 3 day recharging period. Can eat and drink but get no nutrition from it. The lack of pheromones means xenomorphs will usually ignore them if they don't act provocatively. They hold true to their programmed directives, which can result in heroic, villainous, or erratic behavior depending on those directives. Synths lack vacuum support, and while they will not suffocate they will suffer damage in a similar manner to an unprotected human. Synths are significantly better than the average human, but they are far from super human. They don't have Accessory: Computer because while they are an AI running on a computer, that computer seems to be used strictly as a brain for the AI and doesn't run any extra programs. __________________ GURPS Fanzine The Path of Cunning is worth a read. Last edited by Tyneras; 02-24-2021 at 06:40 AM. Reason: Con't believe I forgot Combat Reflexes

02-24-2021, 12:33 AM	#7
thalcos Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Seattle, WA	Re: Aliens-like Synthentic? This is perfect. I figured someone out there would know this lore better than I did :-)

02-24-2021, 03:29 AM	#8
Daigoro Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Meifumado	Re: Aliens-like Synthentic? I think Bishop doing the knife game in this clip is meant to show that he has superhuman reflexes, though I don't recall if it's demonstrated much in the rest of the movie. https://youtu.be/hJtYFoKeh1I So I'd be tempted to go above DX 14. Note that he mentions he's Asimov compliant at the end, so you'd need to add Sense of Duty (Humans) and maybe Pacifism of some sort. David can shoot hoops while riding a bicycle here, which also means a high DX, but maybe not so superhuman. https://youtu.be/sSGsVqRU4Kg __________________ Collaborative Settings: Cyberpunk: Duopoly Nation Space Opera: Behind the King's Eclipse And heaps of forum collabs, 30+ and counting!

02-24-2021, 06:09 AM	#9
Rolando MIB Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Panama	Re: Aliens-like Synthentic? I think the knife trick is the result of the directives to not harm itself or humans, not a result of real skill. It fail though, because Bishop cuts himself by accident, but it may be that even with the directives his movements are not perfect. How to simulate it in rules may be something like higher purpose that grants a bonus if the synthetic is trying to not harm someone or itself maybe. They also seems to have skill packages that include some tricks and entertainment, so maybe the knife trick was programmed, but no knife skill. I think they are not supposed to use weapons of any kind and are inept at combat (as in "they are incapable of"), not real pacifists as they will not protest violence as a solution. In the comics there are combat synths though.

02-24-2021, 06:12 AM	#10
Not Join Date: Feb 2013	Re: Aliens-like Synthentic? Party tricks are a perk. If it's useful elsewhere it's probably High Manual Dexterity. __________________ Leave this space blank.