Some of my Trav ship computer rules

[sideranautae]

All Ship computers (the main computers listed in ship design) have full voice interface starting at TL 10.

Intellect (MCr.1) is a H/W module rather than s/w. It is an AI (not self aware) unit design specifically for plugging into a ship's computer. Not unlike a crew person using a workstation. It comes default with Pilot 0 & Sensors 0. This allows it to be used "out of the box" as a Smart auto pilot for use primarily during long boring Normal Space travel. Wouldn't want to use it to land/takeoff, dock/undock, etc.

A ship's pilot might ask if his ship has a "Brain". That is how they are refereed to by bridge crew.

Expert system modules can be purchased and plugged into this "Brain". Like an Astrogation-1 module. This runs independent of the Ship computer rating.

Any major drawbacks to this?

 

[GypsyComet]

Any major drawbacks to this?

Not if it suits how you play your game. It may clash with others, particularly in the limits and advantages of the autopilot. This essentially makes the ship's Comp the quiet guy at the end of the table who never wants to leave the ship, but isn't good at any useful skills. Very useful for solo or low PC count games, but potentially steps on the toes of Quiet Guy.

"There are FOUR pilots sitting around this table. Why did you buy a fifth?"

 

[sideranautae]

This essentially makes the ship's Comp the quiet guy at the end of the table who never wants to leave the ship, but isn't good at any useful skills. Very useful for solo or low PC count games, but potentially steps on the toes of Quiet Guy.

No idea what you mean by a PC named "Quiet Guy" and how a smart auto pilot (already existing IRL aircraft) would "step on his toes" in an RPG.

I may have missed out of some inside RPG jokes somewhere though.

 

[GypsyComet]

You have an RPG table full of lively Type 1 personalities who all rolled characters capable of their own starring role? Few groups manage that. Most have one or more guys just there to roll dice and let someone else do the talking.

The larger the group the more likely you get significant overlap between PCs. The chances of some poor shmuck being second best at everything he's good at are pretty high. Under normal circumstances he'll find a role, even if it is rushing around the ship being the extra set of hands for every task. A robot would take his already limited role away from him, but robots are expensive purchases. You've provided a robot that is part of the ship's mortgage instead, so it will be present far more often.

An autopilot is an extra character. A game that needs an extra character won't suffer for it, but a game that doesn't need yet another pilot might. Play style of the whole table is the determiner, and all I can do is warn of the possibility. It may not be an issue for you and yours.

 

[sideranautae]

You have an RPG table full of lively Type 1 personalities who all rolled characters capable of their own starring role? Few groups manage that. Most have one or more guys just there to roll dice and let someone else do the talking.

I've never had a group with one or two guys who are just there to roll dice while the others RP. Those who don't want to RP while playing an RPG don't have seats at my table. Why would people like that want to sit round not playing? It would be like having a bowling game where 1/2 the people that showed up just wanted to sit and score keep but not bowl. Strange situation.

I've almost never encountered that in stable RP groups.

Okay, so you have no problems with the game mechanics of this.

 

[GypsyComet]

Why would people like that want to sit round not playing? It would be like having a bowling game where 1/2 the people that showed up just wanted to sit and score keep but not bowl. Strange situation.

I've almost never encountered that in stable RP groups.

Either you have a lot of Theater people on tap or you have been selecting against quiet gamers. They do exist and are far more common than your experience.

so you have no problems with the game mechanics of this.

Nope. It's all in the down-stream ramifications.

 

[sideranautae]

Either you have a lot of Theater people on tap or you have been selecting against quiet gamers.

Nope. Mostly engineers. No theater types. I ask for people who like to play Role Playing games. That's what I get I guess.

so you have no problems with the game mechanics of this.

Nope.

 

[phavoc]

All Ship computers (the main computers listed in ship design) have full voice interface starting at TL 10.

Intellect (MCr.1) is a H/W module rather than s/w. It is an AI (not self aware) unit design specifically for plugging into a ship's computer. Not unlike a crew person using a workstation. It comes default with Pilot 0 & Sensors 0. This allows it to be used "out of the box" as a Smart auto pilot for use primarily during long boring Normal Space travel. Wouldn't want to use it to land/takeoff, dock/undock, etc.

A ship's pilot might ask if his ship has a "Brain". That is how they are refereed to by bridge crew.

Expert system modules can be purchased and plugged into this "Brain". Like an Astrogation-1 module. This runs independent of the Ship computer rating.

Any major drawbacks to this?

I don't see any issues to this. Sci fi has had a number of books that have had sentient (or at least very smart ships) that essentially take on a role as a character. Voice commands we have today so there's no reason not to have them more robustly installed in the future. Think of it like having an Xbox in every ship - "Ship, fire torpedoes!" "Ship, make me a turkey pot pie", etc.

A couple of questions though:

1) I take it you don't have laws in your ATU about having computer-controlled spacecraft without a pilot at the station? OTU rules require a human to be in charge, though I think we all acknowledge the computers do most of the work. But they still need a human in the loop to do the actual work.

2) Why a piece of hardware? Using today's appliance analogues, it CAN work, but now you have the pro's and con's of a separate device you have to deal with. Most appliances that plug into the network have limited capabilities (non-vendor wise at least) to update them, and the interfaces are typically skewed to keep alternate usage out. It's a right pain in the ass to try and fully exploit them when you are trying to tie it into your network. Your ships computer has by the rules nearly unlimited space, and the module would still need to use CPU cycles to interface with the rest of the systems, so why go with a hardware module? Security? Business reasons?

 

[sideranautae]

I don't see any issues to this. Sci fi has had a number of books that have had sentient (or at least very smart ships) that essentially take on a role as a character.

This isn't that smart. Just a bit better than what the Mil currently has.

Voice commands we have today so there's no reason not to have them more robustly installed in the future. Think of it like having an Xbox in every ship - "Ship, fire torpedoes!" "Ship, make me a turkey pot pie", etc.

I actually didn't create this computer rule. It is already in MGt rules as standard equip option at TL 10 or 11 for all computers.

A couple of questions though:

1) I take it you don't have laws in your ATU about having computer-controlled spacecraft without a pilot at the station?

Given technology, the "station" is wherever the pilot & his data pad is. It would be quite unproductive to have a law that the pilot must be "in the chair" for up to days when in deep space as there is nothing to run into. Space is really, REALLY, empty things to run into. The tough job is calculating a course that WILL run into something... (see this thread for getting a good feel for how large and empty space i: http://forum.mongoosepublishing.com/viewtopic.php?f=89&t=73602 )

OTU rules require a human to be in charge, though I think we all acknowledge the computers do most of the work. But they still need a human in the loop to do the actual work.

Not per MGt rules. The OTU [Imperium] doesn't have any Empire wide laws like that either. Not sure what you are referring to...

2) Why a piece of hardware?

Because don't want to bog down the main computer with another s/w pgm. And in Trav it DOES take up CPU.

Most appliances that plug into the network have limited capabilities (non-vendor wise at least) to update them, and the interfaces are typically skewed to keep alternate usage out. It's a right pain in the ass to try and fully exploit them when you are trying to tie it into your network. Your ships computer has by the rules nearly unlimited space,

Well, I've designed h/w appliances. You CAN design them that way but don't need to. They are designed to fulfill a certain criteria.

and the module would still need to use CPU cycles to interface with the rest of the systems, so why go with a hardware module?

No. No more than a workstation uses CPU. The module doesn't use CPU to think with anymore than a person uses CPU to think with while giving commands through a console..

 

[phavoc]

Eh, fair enough.

I'm not sure safety authorities of the future would want the pilot to be in the crapper landing his ship with his datapad on his knee's. But with automation and tech many things are possible.

Re: appliances - I've dealt mostly with networked security appliances and the vendors build them a) to ensure reliance on them over b) making it open to potentially rival vendors to leverage their products in a customer's environment. It's frakkin frustrating to be a 3rd party and have to deal with this b/s. But that's business and I don't see that changing in the far, far future (assuming we don't all become pure socialists).

As far as "smart" ships go, I suppose it's really a matter of flavor for the game. With increases in computing power and advances in programming it's not unrealistic to assume that you would be able to create artificial personalities that live within the ship's computer systems. The real question becomes one more of "why".

I don't recall the source off the top of my head, but something I had read somewhere indicated that the Imperium didn't allow ships to travel between star systems under computer control, that a pilot was required. The X-boat network really should be a drone-based system, but it isn't. But I can't recall where I read that.

 

[sideranautae]

Eh, fair enough.

I'm not sure safety authorities of the future would want the pilot to be in the crapper landing his ship with his datapad on his knee's. But with automation and tech many things are possible.

No prob. You'll win a major lottery MANY times before a spaceship crashes in deep space.

Re: appliances - I've dealt mostly with networked security appliances and the vendors build them a) to ensure reliance on them over b) making it open to potentially rival vendors to leverage their products in a customer's environment. It's frakkin frustrating to be a 3rd party and have to deal with this b/s. But that's business and I don't see that changing in the far, far future (assuming we don't all become pure socialists).

I designed Security appliances for the US Gov & the Ministre de l'Intérieur, France. As well as for large civilian companies. I Used Open source. Like I said, it will vary. When it comes to products that must fall under Gov jurisdiction (FAA, DoT, et al,) it vary more towards serviceability.

But, this isn't an appliance in that sense. You don't update it. If just runs Expert pgms. They are designed to run them. Like the ship computer (a really big h/w appliance) runs s/w. Companies run their s/w to work with the "standard" ship computer. The game doesn't go to the level of what OS is running on that ship's main computer and is that Jump pgm compatible. (do you do that in your game?)

With increases in computing power and advances in programming it's not unrealistic to assume that you would be able to create artificial personalities that live within the ship's computer systems. The real question becomes one more of "why".

I don't know why you are stuck on this "artificial personality thing". I don't have this as part of my rules... Other than turning a piece of standard MGT ship s/w into H/W it is the same.

I don't recall the source off the top of my head, but something I had read somewhere indicated that the Imperium didn't allow ships to travel between star systems under computer control, that a pilot was required. The X-boat network really should be a drone-based system, but it isn't. But I can't recall where I read that.

I search my CT. MT, MGT & GT files. Must be from some adventure module or something.

Anyway these are computer systems that are THOUSANDS of years in advance of what we use now. Maybe it is like comparing an abacus & slip stick to a current day Super Computer. The only similarities really is that they all "compute".