Robots and Drones for 2nd ed

MonkeyX

Cosmic Mongoose
One of my players has a character that has specialised in making remote drones and robots. Are there any rules for modifying them anywhere? The combat drone in the CSC seems to be fairly large , are there Misti gs for any smaller options? Also what is the limit on AI in the 3I setting. Is a TL 15 Robot with ai like C3PO or is it just good at one thing such a combat drone using s tactical programs and identifying targets etc?
 
I did look into that but I the write up seems to suggest it’s more for creating robot characters. I need mini drones and the like. As a side note the cleaner bot in the CSC is only 500cr compared to thousands a protocol droid costs. Is it just a robotic vacumn cleaner?
 
I haven't looked at the Robot book, but I believe it has rules for building robot bodies which should cover your needs?

I don't recognise the prices; a Protocol Droid costs MCr 3 and a Sanitation Droid Cr 350 000?
 
There's also this alternative take on robots:

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/112590/Traveller-ROBOTS
 
I read somewhere that the linked book is better than the original robots book, but I haven't read it; at this point, my info is a rumour.

Keep in mind it is for 1st ed.
 
Hello, Fellow Travellers!

This is something we are looking at, but we really want to avoid a 'construction' system for robots (though larger ones are covered in the Vehicle Handbook). Being able to create them on the fly like animals is a big plus in our view, but you can expect more detail in the future.
 
Traveller needs a good Sears & Robot Catalogue. The Traveller universe has always been about robots and automations just a couple steps below Star Wars.

(Yes, that's how I mispronounced the company name when I was a wee little kid back when it was Sears & Roebuck)
 
My main issue is just how advanced are these things? Checking the Traveller wiki it seems they were fairly simple inprevious editions but the Tech-World adventure quickly presents a C3PO type as well as nanobots. Obviously TW may be an isolated case but I know the robot hoover my player picked up to modify will soon be discarded as soon as nanobots are on the cards.
 
In the old days, Traveller robots were never humanoid-shaped. They were more like the robots in The Black Hole movie, or like Nomad in Star Trek. Humans had a fear of being replaced/exterminated by machines even in the 57th century. So even those robots were rare encounters. If Blade Runner had been made ten years earlier, Traveller might of had a different write-up for robots.
 
I always liked the usiform concept rather than the I, Robot human form fits all. Runaway was another good movie for 'realistic' robots.

Just to ask, I've seen the word 'drone' used to describe an independently functioning machine and a machine that relies on sophont remote control or extensive decision making externally. Has it become interchangeable or is a robot and a drone separate?
 
arcador said:
I read somewhere that the linked book is better than the original robots book, but I haven't read it; at this point, my info is a rumour.

Nope not a rumor, the 13Mann Robots book is much better than the Mongoose book for construction.
 
MonkeyX said:
My main issue is just how advanced are these things?
Take a look at CSC, p71, "Programming".

As far as I can see they are as smart as humans at about TL 14 ("Very Advanced" programming), and progressively smarter at higher TL making them clearly smarter than humans at TL 16 - 17.
 
Saw a report today that Stephen Hawking predicted emerging robot intelligences will develop agendas needing increased resources and will displace humans to get them. Subsequently he said we need to colonize space to get away from the robot overlords. Think about that when buying your robot vacuum for the Far Trader.
 
JorgeTorres_doomba.jpg


Dirt for the Dirt Throne!
 
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