ResslynHalvik
Cosmic Mongoose
So, this works, right? Cr 443.75 for a TL-11 portable computer giving a completely untrained Traveller Admin
Edit: apologies for lack of column headings. The numeric ones in order are kg, Cr and TL
Last edited:
Rules Clarification: Agent Programs (CSCp69)
- Thread starter Yenaldlooshi
- Start date
Edit: apologies for lack of column headings. The numeric ones in order are kg, Cr and TL
Establishing the connections would be trivial (it would be like resetting you wifi password). I would count it as an operating system function and not even require any skill check.
ResslynHalvik
Cosmic Mongoose
I'm now thinking back to watching my father repeatedly fail to learn how to use a TV remote control ...
You need Expert 2 to get Admin 1 (its skill level one less than the software level), Expert/1 is bandwidth 1 so the max you could get with that set up is Admin 0 for an unskilled character.
To get Admin 1 it would need a specialised TL10 computer which would be Cr2500 and Cr1000 for the Expert Software.
ResslynHalvik
Cosmic Mongoose
So, the Expert skills that aren't interfacing to a computer (e.g. Explosives) - how do those get expressed via Intellect?
Is the computer saying, "OK, mould the plastique around the bottom of each post ... show me using the camera .. no, tweak it a bit like this (shows ER video) .. OK, that's good ... now put the blue wire in... no, the other BLUE ... "?
Is the computer saying, "OK, mould the plastique around the bottom of each post ... show me using the camera .. no, tweak it a bit like this (shows ER video) .. OK, that's good ... now put the blue wire in... no, the other BLUE ... "?
ResslynHalvik
Cosmic Mongoose
ResslynHalvik
Cosmic Mongoose
My apolioges for the tedium here to everyone to whom this is blindingly obvious! 
Yes they can only provide information. It will be like having an expert on the phone to you (and frankly if you are monkeying around with explosives with no training, a phone is as close as I'd be getting)
They left ages ago, it's just tech support here now. Your call is important to usMy apolioges for the tedium here to everyone to whom this is blindingly obvious!
ResslynHalvik
Cosmic Mongoose
It's been a trip. But I think I have it now. Just need to make an EDU roll with target number of 12 to make sure I retain the learning.
ResslynHalvik
Cosmic Mongoose
But ... the CSC (p69) says
Which suggests the computer software has to run off and do something, so where we are using a specialised computer, we are limited to using only Expert packaged skills that can done "on a computer"?
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
You are good. It is not obvious to me either.My apolioges for the tedium here to everyone to whom this is blindingly obvious!
That is true of all expert packages run through Intellect. They could do physical things if they had an interface that turns words into deeds. For example many household appliances could be voice controlled (autochef for example), and could therefore also be controlled by an Intellect package. Intellect could order things by phone from real people or voice controlled systems. Intellect could command robots directly or via wifi or via a drone interface. Basically anything you could do down the phone can be done equally well by Intellect. If you physically interact then you need to find a mechanism to do that.
Even Basic Brained robots can be commanded directly in tasks that are outside their programming (assuming the security protocols allow). You could tell even a Labour Droid how to make a cup of tea (possibly in excruciating detail) and the Intellect package could do that as well. You could co-opt a
I had one remain at home while my character went hunting for suppliers. It scanned the trade networks in my absence (and I set it to take its time for the +2 bonus). When I got back it had provided a list of contacts to meet, but it could have conducted the trade on line, arranged delivery of the goods and made the payments on my behalf. I only wanted to conduct the trade in person to take advantage of a SOC DM.
When I went on a mission I had it monitor the vehicles short range radar and warn me if anyone approached while I was inside a building. When I got ambushed I got it to engage the vehicles auto pilot and drive the vehicle close to the exit so I could escape. This didn't actually use any expert skill as it was just using the vehicles automated systems on my behalf while I was concentrating on other things.
If I had an Intelligent Weapon the Intellect could command it to fire (but couldn't aim it as it has no acutator), if it were a sentry gun it would be a different matter.
Intellect doesn't actually have an INT stat like robot brain so it can only do what is has been specifically commanded (you referee may allow you to have predefined some common tasks over time to avoid tedious verbalisation of basic activity), but that includes getting other expert or automated systems to do their thing.
Last edited:
ResslynHalvik
Cosmic Mongoose
Hmmm. So for your money the Explosives example above can be shoehorned into "instruct the computer to accomplish a task and report results"?
I read this as a limitation specifically on the specialised computer rather than on intellect
I read this as a limitation specifically on the specialised computer rather than on intellect
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
Wouldn't it be easier just to do it like this?
Expert/1 +1 to a max Difficulty of 6 or autonomously at 2d6-2
Expert/2 +1 to a max Difficulty of 8 or autonomously at 2d6-1
Expert/3 +1 to a max Difficulty of 10 or autonomously at 2d6
Expert/4 +1 to a max Difficulty of 12 or autonomously at 2d6+1
Expert/5 +1 to a max Difficulty of 14 or autonomously at 2d6+2
Maximum Difficulty when operating autonomously by TL so it stays in line with Brain Complexity limits in the Robot Handbook.
Or something like this anyhow, and then do away with stuff like Agent, Intellect, etc.
Just my 2 cents
Expert/1 +1 to a max Difficulty of 6 or autonomously at 2d6-2
Expert/2 +1 to a max Difficulty of 8 or autonomously at 2d6-1
Expert/3 +1 to a max Difficulty of 10 or autonomously at 2d6
Expert/4 +1 to a max Difficulty of 12 or autonomously at 2d6+1
Expert/5 +1 to a max Difficulty of 14 or autonomously at 2d6+2
Maximum Difficulty when operating autonomously by TL so it stays in line with Brain Complexity limits in the Robot Handbook.
Or something like this anyhow, and then do away with stuff like Agent, Intellect, etc.
Just my 2 cents
ResslynHalvik
Cosmic Mongoose
I think the Agent and Intellect etc stuff could work if Mongoose would give someone who could write it clearly the time they needed to explain it, probably with some pictures showing the framework software as a bunch of slots that other software fits into.
Heck, now I think I understand it I might give it a go myself. Half of my job is understanding things and most of the other half is writing them down so others can understand them
Heck, now I think I understand it I might give it a go myself. Half of my job is understanding things and most of the other half is writing them down so others can understand them
Last edited:
CSC p71 gives us "An Intellect software package is ... able to communicate normally with a Traveller and run an assigned Expert package."
It is the Expert package that does the work and this is the same regardless of whether you use the specialised computer or a normal one.
The specialised computer is already limited enough by being 10 times the price and being dedicated to a single expert package.
Agent can only do computer stuff (but with a sufficiently integrated system that could extend to virtually anything).
This is definitely arcane and once you start including the RH and High Guard (and doubtless a gazillion random source books that I don't have) it all becomes a bit of a mess.
ResslynHalvik
Cosmic Mongoose
Sure, but I read the "normal" intellect as being able to have a narrative/discussion with the Traveller about what they need to do, while the specialised one explicitly says that it can "instruct the computer to accomplish a task and report results".
You think I am misreading this? Genuine question, in case my annoying ND brain is putting this across in a way that sounds confrontational
ResslynHalvik
Cosmic Mongoose
For a simpler Agent-centred portable computer acting as a mobile comm as well, this one works OK? And leaves me with bandwidth 1 free for running something like Translator?
| TL-11 Portable computer as mobile comm | kg | Cr | TL |
| Computer/1 TL-8 base | 8 | ||
| TL-11 adjustment - 3 bands | - | 31.25 | 11 |
| Physical UI: holo, gesture, voice | - | - | 11 |
| Comms: 5km transceiver | - | - | 11 |
| Comms: wireless link | - | - | 11 |
| camera | - | - | 11 |
| Software: Interface/0 | - | 0 | 7 |
| Software: Agent/0 | - | 500 | 11 |
ND also so neither of us might be correctly calibrated on this oneSure, but I read the "normal" intellect as being able to have a narrative/discussion with the Traveller about what they need to do, while the specialised one explicitly says that it can "instruct the computer to accomplish a task and report results".
You think I am misreading this? Genuine question, in case my annoying ND brain is putting this across in a way that sounds confrontational
I read "instruct computer to conduct a task" is running an expert package, The expert package might prompt for additional information but with an unskilled operator that might not be very useful. Therefore I consider all of them to be fire and forget. Once the task is finished then the intellect can help you interrogate the report on the activity. That activity could be "provide instructions on how to set a mark 2 detonator for a 45 second delay and how to activate it once set" and the report is the instructions or it could be "Set the timer on the autochef" and the report would just be a statement of success or failure.
Digital Friend is clearly more chatty and Intelligent Interface is clearly very different and expects more guidance form the user as unskilled users cannot even use it. Agent is locked to a specific skill. I count Intellect as the same regardless of whether it is software or hardware implemented as otherwise we are juggling 5 different interfaces where the separation is only marginal.
Similar threads
