Robots - I must be doing something wrong ...

[rust]

I borrowed a copy of the Robot supplement to see whether
it could be used as a quick way to design robots for my de-
sert world setting.

What I had in mind was a big mining robot. I decided to use
a Size 4 ("cow size") Long Frame, which has 16 slots. Then
I added 2 Size 4 Arms, which take up 2 x 6 = 12 slots and
3 pairs of Wheels, which take up 3 x 1 = 3 slots.

And this is about the end of it, because with 16 - 12 - 3 = 1
slots I have only a single slot left for communicator, sensors,
tools and all that, which makes it impossible to design the ro-
bot.

I do not want to believe that the system is badly broken, so I
must have made some mistake because of a misunderstanding,
but I cannot find where I made that mistake.

Help would be most welcome.

 

[AndrewW]

It is a bit short on the number of slots. You could add a "head" to gain more.

 

[rust]

It is a bit short on the number of slots. You could add a "head" to gain more.

Ah, thank you.

I think I will have to increase the number of slots allowed by the system,
adding a lot of weight and paying a lot of credits to get the space for a
few bits of electronics seems no good way to go.

On second thought, a robot the size of a cow could probably even have
unlimited "minor stuff" slots for my purposes, especially as it will be de-
signed for a very specific task and will be unarmed.

 

[zozotroll]

M intrpetatin,because otherwise dest ake sese is hat the slots, re those ontebody. Theneacr ad leg gtsthat mny moresots thos lmbs. nd if yodd a headyoget a fw mre sos.
Thi sees to ork for me. hrwse as ousay ycnt mak uh of anhing.

wen

What? OK that s notwrth trying to fix. ueess eed a new keyboard.

Addthe limbs slots, don subtract them. Te number is howmch you an pile on each limb, an the firstnumer is howmuh is in thebdy. Otherwseyou re rigt, cant do much.

 

[rust]

Ah, got it - that makes a lot more sense, thank you a lot.

 

[far-trader]

M intrpetatin,because otherwise dest ake sese is hat the slots, re those ontebody. Theneacr ad leg gtsthat mny moresots thos lmbs. nd if yodd a headyoget a fw mre sos.
Thi sees to ork for me. hrwse as ousay ycnt mak uh of anhing.

wen

What? OK that s notwrth trying to fix. ueess eed a new keyboard.

Addthe limbs slots, don subtract them. Te number is howmch you an pile on each limb, an the firstnumer is howmuh is in thebdy. Otherwseyou re rigt, cant do much.

Yep, what he said

(I think Including the bit about needing a new keyboard, mine is starting to crap out too I keep having to wait for it to catch up and then edit what it missed, maybe it just needs new batteries, wireless is the only way to surf )

I seem to recall a similar issue with a previous robot design system, it only made sense if you took the limbs (legs, arms, heads*) to be additional space for features rather than requiring space from the main chassis (body). The rules were fuzzy as I recall. Haven't seen the MgT version but think I read this complaint here earlier, meant to reply and got dis... tract... ooohhh, shiney

* think outside the box a little more, multiple heads might help in a few ways

 

[rust]

Yeah, I overlooked the head(s), probably because they are
called "units" in the system.

 

[apoc527]

FWIW, I think limbs are intended to take up space and power, hence the slot usage. I use units to get more space honestly. I'm considering a house rule for limbs where they would provide half the slots they take up for limb-mounted equipment only.

 

[far-trader]

I think wheels might even be cheated into the 'limbs' category if you consider some of the motorized wheel designs, where the wheel is the motor with power/fuel fed to it and a direct transmission (no real transmission volume). No remote motor and all the transmission to translate the power to traction to save on everything.

Then of course you might as well include tracks (with the bogie-wheels taking the same wheel as motor form above).

Perhaps not entirely but largely, maybe

 

[rust]

The more I read, the more I think this will not be my system.

For example this here:

Robots are usually much stronger than sophonts, which
enables them to carry more powerful communication devices.
The price is the same as a normal device plus 1,000 Credits
for installation.

Really, I am expected to pay 1,000 Credits for the installation of
a "Radio, Distant" which costs 600 Credits ?

For 1,000 Credits I can have a trained starship engineer, who has
a monthly wage of 4,000 Credits, work on the robot for at least 5
days. :shock:

 

[rust]

Or this here:

As a rule of thumb, assume that an item fitted
for a robot would be 1,000-5,000 Credits more
expensive than the regular version.

These robots are built by Rolls-Royce.

 

[apoc527]

That's hard to deal with simply because there's going to be some cost associated with building the radio into the robot and there's no way to know what that cost will be. If you don't like a straight 1,000 credits, maybe 50% of the item's cost?

 

[rust]

I think I would find this acceptable for a modification, the
installation of a device into a robot which was not designed
to have it, but for a robot specifically designed to have the
device it still seems a bit expensive, because any structural
work necessary to house the device would be considered in
the construction of the chassis.

So I think 200 Credits or 250 Credits for the installation per
device would seem more plausible, otherwise it would be
more economic to just give the robot the normal device to
carry as a "deck load" and the skill to use it.

 

[far-trader]

Or this here:

As a rule of thumb, assume that an item fitted
for a robot would be 1,000-5,000 Credits more
expensive than the regular version.

These robots are built by Rolls-Royce.

<thunk-ring>

"Hear that, that's not iridium plating my friend. Your robot is built of solid iridium alloys with groat horn inlay buffed to a high polish and set with over 10,000 carets of precious gems. It's sure to impress as it spot welds on your assembly line. Here, feel it, not a seam or rivet or ripple, just feel the quality... "

 

[rust]

Alternatively it could be a military specification robot, with gear like
a screwdriver which works in a temperature range from -30° Celsius
to +40° Celsius, at night and for a short time even under water or in
a vacuum, and has a stealth coating so the screws are unable to see
it coming and to avoid it.

 

[BFalcon]

Now you're just teasing me about my ship designs, admit it...

Nowt wrong with Stealth!!!

 

[rust]

Okay, delete the stealth coating and replace it with a radia-
tion shielding and a shock absorbing screwdriver handle.

 

[AndrewW]

This was officially answered at one point, arms and legs take up slots, not provide them...

http://forum.mongoosepublishing.com/viewtopic.php?f=75&t=46221

There's another thread as well, but this one was easy to find.

 

[rust]

Thank you for the info.

Edit.:
When I search for "robot", the thread does not come up.

 

[atpollard]

I have vauge memories of asking the same questions about the playtest version.
I wonder if those comments ever even made it to Mongoose?
Sigh.