COME! my robot minions (MUAHAHAHA!)

[Erathoniel]

Some insentients (apes, gremlins, the smarter spectrum), maybe, robots, definitely, average animals, probably no.

[Ramidel]

This would be a coding -nightmare-.

Also, of course, we don't -see- Mobile Dolls in use anywhere in GH, bioweapons aside. I think that that kind of tech would alter, at the very minimum, how FedTer and L5's armies functioned in -drastic- ways.

For line mecha, robots would simply be cheaper to build and train than human pilots. Training a human is expensive, programming a bot is cheap. And L5 in particular really can't afford to waste manpower, so...

[Frumple]

Quoting: Ramidel

This would be a coding -nightmare-.

Aren't most fan suggestions?

Quoting: Ramidel

Also, of course, we don't -see- Mobile Dolls in use anywhere in GH, bioweapons aside.

Well, except in the pseudo-case of those random adventurers running around with a half-dozen sentient robots strapped into the pilot seat of a mecha...

Quoting: Ramidel

For line mecha, robots would simply be cheaper to build and train than human pilots.

And tanks would be cheaper than mecha, but we don't see many (any, in the baseline design files, really) of those running around, neh?

Quoting: Ramidel

Training a human is expensive, programming a bot is cheap.

Oh ho. But humans are created solely through unskilled labor and, given the mecha-centric nature of the GH universe, I imagine a perfectly suitable number of flesh-monkies train themselves. And there's nothing saying that programming a bot capable of piloting a mecha with any skill beyond 'meat shield' is cheap. I imagine it'd be both expensive and hard to pry from the original owner(s)'s hands.

I think it'd be pretty easy to make the case that the potential for 'mobile doll' type machines is already there in the GH universe (drones, for one), but that there's simply something stopping it from being used en masse. There's quite a few things the main PC is capable of that doesn't seem to get much usage in general GH society -- let's face it, the PC is effectively a fringe element in the GH world, and most of the stuff discussed in this thread, at least, probably revolves more around further expression of that than it does general in-universe usage.

Basically, I'd say that we want to see this stuff being used by the odd arch-rival or uber-enemy (and ourselves), not every pirate group mucking around. Might be neat...

[This message crafted under the effects of mild sleep deprevation and "Too-Frikkin'-Early"itis. Please read responsibly. Consult your doctor if any side effects occur.]

[macksting]

I always imagined the lead character was capable of the skill levels of a mad scientist, making his/her creations relatively unique.
Washuu can pump out half a billion horrifying creations a week if she chooses to, advanced and impossible to stop; as advanced as the Jurai are, I don't think they could do the same, at least not at the same power level.

[kcwong]

My first creation...



... with a robotics of 4 and ~ $900 of mecha repair tools. It has less than 10 DP in each region.

I think I'll just disassemble it. Better than picking up the pile of scrap metal. >_<

[clasic_traveller_diehard]

thats why i save first and if i don't like it i reset

also the robot come in all shapes and sizes but their sprites all look the same the default sort of works for flying bots but there should more variety in the sprites

[Erathoniel]

Generally I buy alot of one kind of thing and rely on scrap for the rest of the
'bot.

[Francisco Munoz]

I have some code that improves Robotics, I really should start porting it to the last CVS and create a patch... in the worst case scenario it will give JH some ideas :-).
 I already fixed the image issue giving different sprites to each different kind of robot form (and robot size for one of them too)

PS: It could take some time as I'm in business trip and I have later 1 week to relax in NY.

[Erathoniel]

I seem to recall that there are some flaws in the robotics system that allow specific numbers to be much more effective, limiting the ability of a player just to max his skills and giving an advantage to those who look through the code/wiki/whatnot.

Also, would it be possible to allow directed robotics (One point here, two there, give them your skills for less), or would it kill balance?

[Ramidel]

Fair enough, Frumple, though said doll machines already in use are sentient robots.

Brings me to the next point: nonsentient robots count as half a lancemate. Nonsentient robots piloting mecha would thus allow for double-size mecha lances. That's a balance-buster.

[clasic_traveller_diehard]

they can only use them on half a mecha (SF:1) when you think about it plus if it does upset balance just thrown in a -1 penalty for not being sentient with a chance for compensating for it if you put time and effort into it

just a reminder this thread isn't all monkeys in mechas this thread has 2 thoughts actually
1.non sentients operating mecha
2.SF:0 lance mates taking part in mecha combat on foot

[Frumple]

And different advocates for what kind of non-sentients could pilot. Personally, I don't want to see non-sentient robots in mecha -- there's already sentient robots and drones for SF:1+ combat. That, and the seriously freakishly high stat scores robots can get are enough to make AI controlled SF:1 mecha actually dangerous (as opposed to just annoying).

There's also been mention of an eventual rework of how drones work that'd (potentially) let non-sentient type robots (at least thematically) onto the SF:1+ battlefield.

What I'd like to see is the option to extend the dominate animal skill into SF:1+ combat. Preferably by letting them into SF:1 mecha -- perhaps limited to zoanoid mecha -- or something similar.

... of course, that second point there is something that'd be quite nice, too. There's not enough (coughany?cough) SF:0 vs SF:1+ scenarios, nor much support for it. If nothing else, when you eject from a mecha, you should have to foot it off of the battlefield -- or at least have the option to choose to be able keep going on foot. With the pretty decent penalties SF:2 mecha get for attacking SF:0 targets, its not even that unfair.

[clasic_traveller_diehard]

i see that we are at opposite ends of the spectrum

you want animal and no robots and i want robots with no animals

so heres an example of how i think
1st can it be done (i'm not talking code i'm talking if it was real)
2nd would it maintain universal balance (which i don't give a hoot about if you want an example of what i think of "balance" look up a little event in pre zero history called world war 1)

with adequate levels in crafting skills a player should be able wire a robot into the mecha (especially if body part wise the robot and the mecha are identical or at least the mecha doesn't have any parts that the robot doesn't have) after that just let self preservation programing take its course

if the mecha has a humanoid shape it can sit in the chair (no mods, no use of MP)

the beauty of robots is event if the parts don't match up you can bypass the limb wire splicing and plug directly into the brain it just takes more work (but less than animals)

the biggest challenge is that you can't control what the robot learns so until it decides it wants mecha piloting it will have the same no skill penalty like every one else

for animals it would be impossible or at least impractical to do (you need either months of training the animal, cyberware, or fancy biotech gadget)


blast effect eats through any smaller SF plus you can install personal scale weapons for hitting small targets

[Erathoniel]

I would think you would always use a direct to brain for robots. Heck, I would for myself. It's so worth it for the added neural clearness as well as the ability to do other additional tasks more precisely.

[clasic_traveller_diehard]

i'm thinking realistically but the effort needed to splice the robot into the mecha's systems would be easy in comparison to making a robot out of glue

just the brain trick takes more effort (which adds up if your making an army of 50 robots) and maybe a 10% chance of destroying the bot the first time(you just need to install the interface socket once)