Solomani & Aslan

[Gadrin]

This http://traveller.wikia.com/wiki/GenAssist company was listed in the Solomani & Aslan book (see the link in the post).

Do they mention any of the Solomani androids ? Stats would be ideal, but just a feel for them is fine, if there's anything.


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[mike wightman]

Not that I recall unfortunately.

Just watch Bladerunner though, Traveller androids are biologically based synthetic life-forms much like the replicants of that film.

 

[Gadrin]

Well I have GURPS Robots, so I can build just about anything, I just wanted to know how far I can go. :smirk:

It also mentions they geneer lower lifeforms; I already know about dolphins, and I was just wondering how far to take some of that too. :smirk:



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[sfchbryan]

The only thing I can find so far is a blurb on pg. 17 in a sidebar:

"Androids are accepted as Confederation citizens if their mentality originates from a Solomani model. The view is not accepted by many member-states, who refuse to grant local citizenship."

 

[Gadrin]

The only thing I can find so far is a blurb on pg. 17 in a sidebar:

"Androids are accepted as Confederation citizens if their mentality originates from a Solomani model. The view is not accepted by many member-states, who refuse to grant local citizenship."

Wow, that's impressive. I didn't know the Solomani were sympathizers along those lines.

I'll have to look thru my CT Solomani and GURPS Rim of Fire and see if they say anything too. I remembering GURPS Rim of Fire offering an uplifted Gorilla, in addition to Dolphins.

Thanks for the post!




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[mike wightman]

They have uplifted apes as well.

 

[Jame]

IMO, most Traveller androids (as opposed to purely mechanical robots) would be bioroids like in GURPS Biotech. What that means, if you haven't read it, is that they would be built using genetic material, primarily human, and for the most part would be geared, partly programmed but mostly trained, for specific purposes such as labor, undersea work or ... enjoyment-by-others.

The only thing I can find so far is a blurb on pg. 17 in a sidebar:

"Androids are accepted as Confederation citizens if their mentality originates from a Solomani model. The view is not accepted by many member-states, who refuse to grant local citizenship."

Thank you, for you have allowed me to expand one of my characters slightly, provided that the GM agrees.

 

[mike wightman]

Traveller androids are biologically based - it flat out states that in the JotTAS article about robots in Traveller.

 

[Qstor2]

Traveller androids are biologically based - it flat out states that in the JotTAS article about robots in Traveller.

I don't have the old CT Robots book. Was there anything in that book about them?

thanks

Mike

 

[mike wightman]

Not a lot - the LBB Robots book only deals with the mechanical unfortunately. The article on robots was in JotTAS 2 and 3.

 

[Murdoc]

Traveller androids are biologically based - it flat out states that in the JotTAS article about robots in Traveller.

Then that's the only place; I haven't seen or heard that before (I don't have those issues). I have always had Book 8 which talks about psuedo-bios, not to mention the TD adventures with AB-101. And I could find nothing about bioroids in the MT Ref's Companion or S&A. If this was the standard, wouldn't it be mentioned elsewhere? Or was this just one writer's opinion shoehorned into the TU?

I don't know. I'd have no problem with them in my game, but it doesn't seem like Traveller to me.

 

[aramis]

Mike: it also doesn't provide rules for androids, only robots.

 

[mike wightman]

Good point, but at least they are mentioned - clones even get their own little section in the original article "using clones". Note that the article spread between JotTAS 2&3 was edited down for the compilation best of.

It's another one of those areas for development that were never developed I suppose.

Easy enough to make up rules for androids, cyborgs, clones, prosthetics and bionics etc.

 

[Andrew Boulton]

T5 will cover this.

 

[Tysis]

The LBB touches on "pseudo-biological" robots but that is about it. They are still robots. If memory serves you multiplied both mass and price for pseudo-biologicals.

I think the LBB is available as a PDF on the CT CD.

 

[Gadrin]

From Book 8 Robots...

P~e~d~-bi~lorgolbcostsI are rare in the Third Imperium. Tech level 15 is the
first tach level st which a convincing pseudo-biological robot can be
constructed. The majonty of the worlds in the lmperlum are below tech 15 in
local msnufacturlng capability, Besides this. p ~ e ~ d ~ - b # o brgobi
~otas Ia re not psrtlcularly cost effective in design lthe experimental robot
described later would con 12 million credits to constr~ctl.P ~ e ~ d ~robboi
ot8 slsotend to be more frsdle and less rellablethan traditional robots.

Another reason that pseudo-biolog8cal robots have been slow to catch on is
the bias some sophonts have agalnrt them. Msny people, oven from high-tech
worlds. ere unsure of how to react to a human that turns out to be a machine.
Some humanpopulated worlds harbor a general anti-robotic bias, even though
robots are tschnologically feasible there. On such worlds, items advertised
as "Human-Mads" often brlng a premium price. A famous example of this
philosophy 1s the popular qu~~~-rel~gS~ocoieutys for the Sovereignty of Man
over Machine ISSMMI ~nt he Solamsnl Confederation.

Copyright Far Future Enterprises


and from MT's Solomani & Aslan...

The only thing I can find so far is a blurb on pg. 17
in a sidebar:

"Androids are accepted as Confederation citizens if their mentality
originates from a Solomani model. The view is not accepted by many
member-states, who refuse to grant local citizenship."

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[mike wightman]

Pseudo-biological robots are machines made to mimic sophonts.

Androids are artificial biological constructs.

From JotTAS issue 2:

DEFINITIONS
The following definitions of various
beings should provide a framework
within which future ref's notes on this
subject will build.

Being: A self-aware, self-powered
individual with the capacity to sense
its environment and react to it. Humans,
intelligent aliens, robots, and androids
are all beings.

Robot: A mechanically-based artifact
manufactured to some set of specifications.
A robot may, or may not, be
anthropomorphic. Examples of robots
include the robot from Forbidden
Planet, and C3-PO from Star Wars.

Android: A biologically-based being
created to a set of specifications for
some purpose or duty. Androids exhibit
life, in that they are biologically living;
their distinction is that they were
created, rather than having evolved.
Androids generally are incapable of
reproduction, and can be identified by
close inspection. Some suggestions concerning
androids in science fiction
include permanent identifying marks
such as tattoos or a blue dyed skin. Ash,
from Alien, may be an android.

Clone: A biological copy of an existing being. A clone is a duplicate
produced through the use of technology;
alterations in the being's attributes
or qualities generally do not
occur. The relicts from Jack Vance's
novel, To Live Forever, are clones used
to produce a form of immortality for
certain individuals.

Prosthetics: Replacement parts of
biological beings. Prosthetics are intended
to duplicate ordinary capacity
for individuals who have lost organs or
limbs through accident or disease.

Bionics: Enhanced replacement parts
for biological beings. Unlike prosthetics,
bionics provide a function better than
the original organ or limb.

Cyborg: A biological individual who
has been replaced in great part by
mechanical components, usually (although
not always) for purposes which
natural attributes will not function.
A cyborg may be equipped with a very
tough artificial skin, special vision
lenses, and provision for special energy
sources, thus making possible activity in
vacuum or under great pressure.

Copyright Far Future Enterprises

 

[Murdoc]

Thanks for providing that quote, mike. Can you tell us the date of that issue though? You see, I think that that definition of android is not typical of most science fiction, where it just means "looks like a man". Thus, and especially since the quote refers to "future ref's notes", any mention in Traveller prior to that may not be referring to the same thing, and likely the more common definition instead. Heck, even future stuff may not either. I suppose I'd need more context for the article in question to find out what authority it might have over any future publications.

 

[Gadrin]

The Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society is copyright [B][COLOR=red][SIZE=4]1979[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B] by Game
Designers' Workshop. Printed in the U. S. A. All Rights Reserved. ISSN:
0193-3124. All editorial and general mail should be sent toThe Journal, Box
432, Normal, Illinois 61761.

The Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society is published quarterly with an
individual issue price of $2.

From the inside Table of Contents... It was pubished quartery, and that was issue #2 and I don't know what quarter they started.

http://traveller.wikia.com/wiki/Journal_of_the_Travellers_Aid_Society




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[mike wightman]

I am lead to believe that these are the definitions Marc will still be using for T5.