Robot Brains and Virtual machines

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

So, I was wondering if there was any thought put towards running the robot brain on a virtual machine. The Robot Handbook includes purpose built robot brains; the CSC Update and High Guard updates include software versions of Fully Conscious, but nowhere does it include the "lesser" AI. After binge-watching the entirety of Blake's 7, I wanted to add AI personalities to my vessels and vehicles, without going the full "Sentient" route.

If you consider a Robot Brain to be a derivative of a specialized computer running Digital Friend that has a hardware-implemented “Robot Brain (X)” program, than here is a table that shows how much bandwidth the following Robot Brain programs would need on a non-specialized computer:

Virtual Robot Brain Program	Bandwidth	TL	Cost
Virtual Robot Brain/1	1	7	Cr10,000	Primitive, INT 1
Virtual Robot Brain/2	2	8	Cr20,000	Basic (X), INT 3
Virtual Robot Brain/3	2	8	Cr30,000	Hunter/Killer, INT 3
Virtual Robot Brain/4	2	10	Cr4,000	Basic (X), INT 4
Virtual Robot Brain/5	2	10	Cr6,000	Hunter/Killer, INT 4
Artificial Intelligence/1	3	10	Cr100,000	Advanced, INT 6
Artificial Intelligence/2	3	11	Cr50,000	Advanced, INT 7
Artificial Intelligence/3	3	12	Cr10,000	Advanced, INT 8
Artificial Intelligence/4	4	12	Cr500,000	Very Advanced, INT 9
Artificial Intelligence/5	5	13	Cr500,000	Very Advanced, INT 10
Artificial Intelligence/6	6	14	Cr500,000	Very Advanced, INT 11
Self-Aware/1	10	15	MCr1	Self-Aware, INT 12
Self-Aware/2	15	16	MCr1	Self-Aware, INT 13
Conscious/1	20	17	MCr5	Conscious, INT 14
Conscious/2	30	18	MCr1	Conscious, INT 15

Thoughts and feedback are welcome.

 

[Sigtrygg]

Thoughts - wow that is a really good idea consider it added to my must use folder
Feedback will come when I have had time to introduce it to my game.

 

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

Thoughts - wow that is a really good idea consider it added to my must use folder
Feedback will come when I have had time to introduce it to my game.

Thanks- I can't wait to hear more.

 

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

I probably need to gin up some Brain Skill Packages for the Primitive, Basic and Hunter/Killers.

 

[ColinD]

I like how Tech Level 15 is the break-over point for Self-Aware. What do you see as the difference between Self-Aware and Conscious?

 

[Sigtrygg]

I'm not sure what the order should be for conscious and self aware.

Is a dog self aware, is it conscious? How about an ant, is it conscious, is it self aware?

What makes a living brain, even a simple one, alive compared with a supercomputer?

My answer is quantum biology. There is something about a living brain that is only possible due to quantum biology. A mechanical brain can not achieve living status until its hardware can match this quantum nature.

 

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

I like how Tech Level 15 is the break-over point for Self-Aware. What do you see as the difference between Self-Aware and Conscious?

I used the Brain rules from the Robot Handbook on page 65. They imply that emotions are the cutaway, and this is the point where ambitions start to determine independent action. A self-aware robot driving a forklift does not aspire to become ship brain; whereas a fully conscious brain may wish to.

 

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

I'm not sure what the order should be for conscious and self aware.

Is a dog self aware, is it conscious? How about an ant, is it conscious, is it self aware?

What makes a living brain, even a simple one, alive compared with a supercomputer?

My answer is quantum biology. There is something about a living brain that is only possible due to quantum biology. A mechanical brain can not achieve living status until its hardware can match this quantum nature.

See my note earlier. I also add the Morale Stat to Self-aware and the Sanity Stat for Conscious.

 

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

I used the Brain rules from the Robot Handbook on page 65. They imply that emotions are the cutaway, and this is the point where ambitions start to determine independent action. A self-aware robot driving a forklift does not aspire to become ship brain; whereas a fully conscious brain may wish to.

Self-Aware/1	10	15	MCr1	Self-Aware, INT 12, MRL 15, SAN 3D
Self-Aware/2	15	16	MCr1	Self-Aware, INT 13, MRL 14, SAN 3D
Conscious/1	20	17	MCr5	Conscious, INT 14, MRL 7, SAN 1D
Conscious/1mil	20	17	MCr7	Conscious, INT 14, MRL 12, SAN 2D
Conscious/2	30	18	MCr1	Conscious, INT 15, MRL 7, SAN 2D
Conscious/2mil	30	18	MCr1	Conscious, INT 15, MRL 12, SAN 3D

 

[ColinD]

I used the Brain rules from the Robot Handbook on page 65. They imply that emotions are the cutaway, and this is the point where ambitions start to determine independent action. A self-aware robot driving a forklift does not aspire to become ship brain; whereas a fully conscious brain may wish to.

You really did some cool work on this and fitted it inside the Mongoose 2 rules. I'll try and use them also for a Mercenary cyborg NPC I have.

 

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

You really did some cool work on this and fitted it inside the Mongoose 2 rules. I'll try and use them also for a Mercenary cyborg NPC I have.

Honestly, I blame Timothy Zahn and his COBRAS for the inspiration.

 

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

The limitations of this particular system is subtle. There are no INT or Bandwidth upgrades available, but the program could be run on a large machine to take advantage of that system. These would not replace the more specialized virtual crew, at least on larger ships.
I almost want to write this into a TAS article.

 

[Sigtrygg]

I think you should

 

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

I just might.
I realized that these virtual brains can gain a substantial amount of zero-level skills, and want to treat them in the same manner as a quirk (roll 1d6 skills for each 25% of the ship paid off until the limit is reached per the Robot Handbook:
In addition to Bandwidth available for skill packages, robot brains of Advanced or greater capability have the ability to exceed their programming through installed or acquired skills of level 0. For each point of Computer/X inherent (not expanded) Bandwidth, a robot may have X zero-level skills. If these skills are specified as part of the robot’s design, they require a cost equivalent
to the skill’s level 0 package cost; if the skill develops naturally in the course of a robot’s experience, they have no monetary cost.)

For a Ship’s Computer or Core, this can be substantial (and kind of fun to role-play)

 

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

I just might.
I realized that these virtual brains can gain a substantial amount of zero-level skills, and want to treat them in the same manner as a quirk (roll 1d6 skills for each 25% of the ship paid off until the limit is reached per the Robot Handbook:
In addition to Bandwidth available for skill packages, robot brains of Advanced or greater capability have the ability to exceed their programming through installed or acquired skills of level 0. For each point of Computer/X inherent (not expanded) Bandwidth, a robot may have X zero-level skills. If these skills are specified as part of the robot’s design, they require a cost equivalent
to the skill’s level 0 package cost; if the skill develops naturally in the course of a robot’s experience, they have no monetary cost.)

For a Ship’s Computer or Core, this can be substantial (and kind of fun to role-play)

I have decided this will be one of my choice’s to submit for JTAS

 

[JustEastOfTheEdge]

Consciousness just means the ability to think for yourself . Self-awareness means you know you are doing it, so some consider it, conceptually, a higher level.
Smart animals like dogs are conscious but their self-awareness is more focused on body-awareness than mind-awareness (as it is more important for their survival, or was).

I see the Robot book switched them around. Academics have argued over these terms for decades anyway.

Had a poke about for an article that is more suitable for general reading:https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/brainwaves/does-self-awareness-require-a-complex-brain/

 

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

Thoughts - wow that is a really good idea consider it added to my must use folder
Feedback will come when I have had time to introduce it to my game.

Any feedback? Have you been able to use it?

 

[MasterGwydion]

So, I was wondering if there was any thought put towards running the robot brain on a virtual machine. The Robot Handbook includes purpose built robot brains; the CSC Update and High Guard updates include software versions of Fully Conscious, but nowhere does it include the "lesser" AI. After binge-watching the entirety of Blake's 7, I wanted to add AI personalities to my vessels and vehicles, without going the full "Sentient" route.

If you consider a Robot Brain to be a derivative of a specialized computer running Digital Friend that has a hardware-implemented “Robot Brain (X)” program, than here is a table that shows how much bandwidth the following Robot Brain programs would need on a non-specialized computer:

Virtual Robot Brain Program	Bandwidth	TL	Cost
Virtual Robot Brain/1	1	7	Cr10,000	Primitive, INT 1
Virtual Robot Brain/2	2	8	Cr20,000	Basic (X), INT 3
Virtual Robot Brain/3	2	8	Cr30,000	Hunter/Killer, INT 3
Virtual Robot Brain/4	2	10	Cr4,000	Basic (X), INT 4
Virtual Robot Brain/5	2	10	Cr6,000	Hunter/Killer, INT 4
Artificial Intelligence/1	3	10	Cr100,000	Advanced, INT 6
Artificial Intelligence/2	3	11	Cr50,000	Advanced, INT 7
Artificial Intelligence/3	3	12	Cr10,000	Advanced, INT 8
Artificial Intelligence/4	4	12	Cr500,000	Very Advanced, INT 9
Artificial Intelligence/5	5	13	Cr500,000	Very Advanced, INT 10
Artificial Intelligence/6	6	14	Cr500,000	Very Advanced, INT 11
Self-Aware/1	10	15	MCr1	Self-Aware, INT 12
Self-Aware/2	15	16	MCr1	Self-Aware, INT 13
Conscious/1	20	17	MCr5	Conscious, INT 14
Conscious/2	30	18	MCr1	Conscious, INT 15

Thoughts and feedback are welcome.

With your permission, I am sooooo stealing this for My games. This is brilliant work! I love it!

 

[Terry Mixon]

Self-Aware/1	10	15	MCr1	Self-Aware, INT 12, MRL 15, SAN 3D
Self-Aware/2	15	16	MCr1	Self-Aware, INT 13, MRL 14, SAN 3D
Conscious/1	20	17	MCr5	Conscious, INT 14, MRL 7, SAN 1D
Conscious/1mil	20	17	MCr7	Conscious, INT 14, MRL 12, SAN 2D
Conscious/2	30	18	MCr1	Conscious, INT 15, MRL 7, SAN 2D
Conscious/2mil	30	18	MCr1	Conscious, INT 15, MRL 12, SAN 3D

Is the MIL suffix for hardened? Not seeing that in the robot book and I'm curious what I'm missing. Also, I love this idea.

 

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

Is the MIL suffix for hardened? Not seeing that in the robot book and I'm curious what I'm missing. Also, I love this idea.

No, it was for a military and had increased Morale and Sanity stats (because, who wants a warship run by a cowardly sociopathic infomorphic consciousness?)