Core22: Why get an intelligent weapon? (p.135)

[Yenaldlooshi]

Core22 p. 135 reads; "Intelligent Weapon (TL11): This adds Computer/0 to any weapon. Costs Cr1000."

What exactly does this do for the weapon in game play for combat?
Does it just allow the weapon to be used as a spare laptop in the field?

I looked over the available 0 bandwidth software and did not see what might help me in combat. Am I missing something?
I know that you can use Smart Tracker with this from the CSC but are there any other benefits? Especially any that can be found in Core22 only?
Why would you want higher bandwidth for this?

 

[Vormaerin]

It runs an interface program normally. Which allows it to display data like how much ammo remains and other stuff depending on the weapon's array of accessories. All computers at TL8+ are short range comms and/or transceivers. So you can query your weapon's status from range, track it via the internet, etc. If it has electronic firing, secure authorization, gun camera, or other features like that, they can be accessed remotely. The P-HUD doesn't specify the range it works at, but it definitely works from quite far away if your gun is internet capable.

Other than that, yeah, it is basically another cellphone/tablet in terms of capability.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

CSC23, p69:
SPECIALISED COMPUTER
A computer can be designed for a specific purpose with a hardware-implemented Intelligent Interface or Intellect program optimised for an Expert skill. These specialised computers are available at TL8 and above. Specialised computers allow all computer bandwidth to be available for the Expert skill package, which is purchased separately. Specialised computers cannot be reprogrammed to accept a new Expert skill package.

Specialised computers with Intelligent Interface allow a skilled individual to gain DM+1 on relevant tasks and costs five times the standard cost of a general computer of equal bandwidth.

So buy a TL-12 Intelligent Wpn with comp/1 (Cr1000), specialise it with Intelligent Interface for five times the cost (Cr5000), and you can have a constant DM+1 to hit...

Or just buy a higher TL Intelligent Wpn option with a higher BW (CSC23, p175) and run both Intelligent Interface + Expert normally.

 

[Vormaerin]

The Marine in my campaign has neural comms and an intelligent gauss rifle. So she always knows if someone touches it (even if it is back on the ship or in a secure storage locker), she can see where it is pointed at all times (even if not in possession of it), can authorize or de-authorize its use, trigger the electronic firing mechanism, it tracks what ammo she has loaded and how much, stores her hardcore combat music playlist, and a bunch of other things.

Are any of them +1 to hit? No. Are they really useful? Yes.

 

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

IMTU, I have an arms dealer who famously replaced all computerweaves and intelligent weapons with various types of microbot or robot brain. This has made these types of systems incredibly more useful. They provide expert assistance to the user, and much more advanced functionality (albeit, at a greatly increased cost). They may initiate limited actions, based on their programming, without waiting for character appropriate. They are targetable by opposing hackers or Zhodani psion.

The first use that I remember was a pistol that was constantly aiming a laser designator at targets within range (thus granting the DM with minimal allocation of actions).

 

[Saladman]

Are any of them +1 to hit? No. Are they really useful? Yes.

This is the way to play.

 

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

IMTU, I have an arms dealer who famously replaced all computerweaves and intelligent weapons with various types of microbot or robot brain. This has made these types of systems incredibly more useful. They provide expert assistance to the user, and much more advanced functionality (albeit, at a greatly increased cost). They may initiate limited actions, based on their programming, without waiting for character appropriate. They are targetable by opposing hackers or Zhodani psion.

The first use that I remember was a pistol that was constantly aiming a laser designator at targets within range (thus granting the DM with minimal allocation of actions).

I should clarify that these are Hunter/Killer brains or microbots with lots of zero-slot options.

 

[Yenaldlooshi]

So buy a TL-12 Intelligent Wpn with comp/1 (Cr1000), specialise it with Intelligent Interface for five times the cost (Cr5000), and you can have a constant DM+1 to hit...

Or just buy a higher TL Intelligent Wpn option with a higher BW (CSC23, p175) and run both Intelligent Interface + Expert normally.

On CSC23 p70 regarding expert software:
"In most instances, only INT and EDU-based checks can be attempted"

Other than maybe "how to clean your weapon" what sort of expert packages are you assuming you can use in that rig? There is no listing for "Gun Combat" as an Expert skill in the list of software. That is DEX based and therefore no expert software available.

Maybe you could get a +1 or more on a multi-minute aiming action using the computer to give you dope on the weapon vs ammo type vs shooting conditions... (see the Cheytac M200 sniper rifle with it's Advanced Ballistic Computer combo for an IRL example), but that would be additional rules out of the scope of the books. That or Referee fiat.

 

[Geir]

Or. to stay within the rules in a convoluted way, technically Recon is an INT skill, so give the gun Recon (assuming an electronic scope) and let the recon task be part of a kill chain shooting task chain. Or... as mentioned above lots of useful non-DM-worthy things it can do. With a robot brain, it could definitely autonomously fire (see the flying guns and sword from the Robot Handbook for more fun).

There were some books a decade or probably more back about a guy with an intelligent rifle - sort of like Elric meets Traveller, kinda grim and I think the publisher pulled the third book and it fell into obscurity.

 

[Shardan13]

Even though the rules don't support it I have always thought that a intelligent weapon would help correct the user's aim while firing as well as show the current condition/status of the weapon.

Perhaps the intelligent weapon is not useful in of itself but within a network of sensors allows for accurate blind shots. It predicts and displays the location of unseen targets to the user's HUD or scope.

 

[Yenaldlooshi]

So you could have a rifle with true AI and a personality that a guy could actually fall in love with. Kinda gives new meaning to some of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman's lines in "Full Metal Jacket":

"Tonight, you pukes will sleep with your rifles. You will give your rifle a girl's name.... (long NSFW redaction).... You're married to this piece. This weapon of iron and wood. And you will be faithful."

 

[Ol'Weedy]

Or. to stay within the rules in a convoluted way, technically Recon is an INT skill, so give the gun Recon (assuming an electronic scope) and let the recon task be part of a kill chain shooting task chain. Or... as mentioned above lots of useful non-DM-worthy things it can do. With a robot brain, it could definitely autonomously fire (see the flying guns and sword from the Robot Handbook for more fun).

There were some books a decade or probably more back about a guy with an intelligent rifle - sort of like Elric meets Traveller, kinda grim and I think the publisher pulled the third book and it fell into obscurity.

As is tactics, so there's an initiative DM for the OP.

 

[Yenaldlooshi]

I have one;

Expert Software: Leadership Skill.

Integrated with comms, the weapon could actually advise the team in a way to grant them the DM+1 to their attacks too.

Now, the question I have is "Intelligent Interface" and "Intellect" both required or just one of those to run an expert program? Do I need both of those to run a Leadership expert program? (p112) The descriptions for these sound like they could be redundant or do the same sort of things or be redundant...

If so, then I would need TL15 to get Bandwidth of 3 that would use:
Intelligent Interface Bw1
Intellect Bw1
Expert: Leadership-1 Bw1

If this is the case, then it could only give me a leadership-0 after the -1 unless I have my own leadership skill to get the +1.

 

[Condottiere]

1. Wireless interconnectivity - the rifles gossip amongst each other.

2. Artificial personality.

3. Seduction - your weapon may get hacked.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

On CSC23 p70 regarding expert software:
"In most instances, only INT and EDU-based checks can be attempted"

My interpretation, perhaps a bit optimistic, is that that applies to unskilled use and/or text-based computers.

A current example of an "Expert-system" giving a bonus on a DEX task is a reversing camera with guidelines for projected movement.

In the case of an Intelligent weapon, the sights could compensate for e.g. range, gravity, atmosphere, and ammo type. I think that is worth a DM+1.

I would not allow an unskilled person, who doesn't know how sights, stance, or breathing works, to use the expert system instead of his own skill.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

The Marine in my campaign has neural comms and an intelligent gauss rifle. So she always knows if someone touches it (even if it is back on the ship or in a secure storage locker), she can see where it is pointed at all times (even if not in possession of it), can authorize or de-authorize its use, trigger the electronic firing mechanism, it tracks what ammo she has loaded and how much, stores her hardcore combat music playlist, and a bunch of other things.

Are any of them +1 to hit? No. Are they really useful? Yes.

Sure that is useful, so is a DM+1.

Buy a higher TL Intelligent Wpn option and do both?

 

[Vormaerin]

Well, other than the aforementioned problem that Gun Combat isn't an eligible Expert skill in a computer (only a neural jack), nothing.

 

[Spartan159]

Neural Link (A more advanced Neural Jack) on page 92 of the Robot Handbook allows motor control - physical based skills.
Yeah, more stuff spread out between books. A hazard of the media I suspect.

 

[Vormaerin]

Neural Link (A more advanced Neural Jack) on page 92 of the Robot Handbook allows motor control - physical based skills.
Yeah, more stuff spread out between books. A hazard of the media I suspect.

Actually, Neural Links are right next to Neural Jacks in CSC, I just didn't state both because they are the same tech. One has an integral wafer jack and the other doesn't. But I probably should have used Neural Link, since that's the actual tech while Neural Jack is the combo item.

 

[Spartan159]

Actually, Neural Links are right next to Neural Jacks in CSC, I just didn't state both because they are the same tech. One has an integral wafer jack and the other doesn't. But I probably should have used Neural Link, since that's the actual tech while Neural Jack is the combo item.

I just happened to be reading the Robot book at the time