[Thrass]

Basically I wanted to play an AI then I thought... maybe rigging was a good Idea so I could take part in the real world action when there is nothing to Hack.

Then I read about Cyberzombies and the possibility to Hack them and basically overtake them, but it is somewhat not an option (cost factor and maintainance factor).
Then I read about Biodrones and thought hey yeah that's like it.

Then I wanted to have a Troll Biodrone...

Since both Cyberzombies and Biodrones use a modified Move-By-Wire system that is adapted to specific needs I think a normal Move-By-Wire system is one that is actually customized for metahumans.

So AI + TrollBody (Clone Type-O bought) + implanted Headset + Headset (somewhere to live for the AI) + Move By Wire System should be all I need.

Is that a legit approach?

With a Move by Wire System rated 1 I would have 3 Action Phases from which the first two can be used for real world or Matrix actions and the 3rd can be used only for Matrix actions is that correct? (and what would happen to the 4th action phase granted from move by wire 3...?)


The Orc Drone would need a Body attribute which should imho range from 5-10 (a fresh Clone should probably be at 5 with the option to enhance it later on?)

Since there is no Soul should a virtual Essence be in place for the Clone not to die? or is it there is no soul there is no Essence it is in every way a Drone and can be stuffed out until there is no more physical room? (And since it is a Type-O Clone does it automatically have the Advantage of a Type-O System where BioWare automatically behaves like delta ware?)

What skill would the Troll Drone use to Fire a Gun in his hands?
Gunnery or the appropriate Weapon skill since it is not "mounted"
and what if it is an implanted weapon?

If you object the Idea of a Troll-BioDrone then please answer the questions as possible with a Biodrone animal in mind (maybe a Monkey so he can hold and use weapons)

what about active skills... analogous to Cybercombies it looks like I could use active skills (pilot for example) up to my normal skill maximum 6(9) and skillsoft is limited to the skillsoft system inside the move by wire system is that correct?

Would you suggest Pilot Anthroform or Pilot Special?
I think Biodrones would be Anthroforms (if not swarms) and would therefore stick to Pilot Anthroform.


Since this is a work in progress any Ideas and Feedback is welcome.

[ArkangelWinter]

I dont know if RAW you could do a Troll biodrone, but a cheaper option might be an anthroform or humanoid standard drone. And less prejudice. I'd say that clones and biodrones still have essence, and Pilot Exotic might be necessary because biological systems are different than a standard drone interface

[Mirikon]

The rules for rigging biodrones are in Running Wild. Pilot Anthroform covers biodrones. However, riggers who aren't trained in that specific biodrone suffer a -4 penalty. Riggers who complete a training course have a -2 penalty.

However, the limiting factor here is the cost (essence and nuyen) and availability of the Stirrup Interface (Augmentation, pg 153) that allows you to jump into a biodrone. The lowest level one (equivalent of Move by Wire 1) is 15R availability, 45K nuyen, and 2.5 Essence. Level 2 is 21R, 80K, 3.5 Essence. Level 3 is 28R, 100K, 5.5 Essence.

[Medicineman]

Level 2 is 21R, 80K, 3.5 Essence.

This Screams:
"Take Me as used Alphaware with restricted Gear"
Can You Hear it ? 

With a Dance to the Scream
Medicineman

[Xzylvador]

Wouldn't the biggest limiting factor be the very questionable legal and moral nature of what you're trying to achieve?
You want to take a living sentient being, put in 'ware which to turn it into a puppet and then control it with an AI.

Now I'm certain this has been done a hundred times before in secret corporate and/or government labs as part of projects that'll never reach the public... but if (anyone in) the public, law enforcement, (meta)human rights groups etc... ever finds out that you're an Artificial Intelligence which has turned a (presumably unwilling) sentient (meta)human into its meat puppet and is controlling it to walk around in disguise... Man, you'd have soooo many enemies.
Clockwork might come hunt you down, too.

[Thrass]

Thanks so far especially for the running wild pointer (stirrup interface is in augmentation too btw. and is as mentioned basically just a modified move-by.wire system to fit animals)

I don't puppeteer a Human and take away his rights... I use a Clone... a Clone which is otherwise only used for research and therefore (Ethics as I think them aside just looking from the characters point of view now) just an empty shell without soul or anything... and would technically belong to the cloning facility...
legally I'ld assume it is a stolen "organ"

The Character history covers getting a self Cloned Body of type-O cells. (in rule terms it is bought with money) and the availability is up to the GM to decide and will not be discussed here.

(move by wire lvl 1 is availability 12, the stirrup lvl 1 which is an adapted move by wire is availability 15 if everything fails the AI character will get everything that's needed in game)

If the Character starts with the Clone the Clone should not be that unfamiliar so I'll take a specialization(metahuman) in Pilot Anthroform and live with the +-0.

[Mirikon]

Clockwork might come hunt you down, too.

Not if you make Clockwork into a biodrone, too...

But Thrass, a Stirrup interface is a bit more complex than a regular move-by-wire system. They aren't the same thing. Also, you would have to talk to your DM about what the cost and availability of a metahuman is. Clones won't work, they mention that cloned bodies don't develop to the point necessary to become biodrones. You need an actual metahuman.

[JustADude]

Check out the Mitsuhama Otomo from Arsenal, p121. 6 Body, +1 Handling, comes with a Mimic system. I'm sure most GMs would let you replace the 265,000¥ Cyborg Adaptation gear with some reasonably high-end hardware for your A.I. at no charge. If not, it's still a 'typical' 3/3/3/3 device that you can upgrade to 5/5/5/5 as you have the funds.

Also, not sure how it would work with the Mimic system, but you could slap 18 points of vehicle (aka, hardened) Armor on that thing, too!

[Thrass]

a Stirrup interface is a bit more complex than a regular move-by-wire system

Clones won't work, they mention that cloned bodies don't develop to the point necessary to become biodrones.

I'd really like to have a reference here since I couldn't find anything on the subject.

The Otomo is nice and would be a reasonable consideration if there wouldn't be those cyborg rules:

A   cyborg requires a weekly maintenance session with shop-level equipment.

Augmentation 160

[JustADude]

The Otomo is nice and would be a reasonable consideration if there wouldn't be those cyborg rules:

A   cyborg requires a weekly maintenance session with shop-level equipment.

Augmentation 160

That's for the Brain-In-A-Jar bit, not for the drone bodies that the B-I-A-J wears.

I'm talking about ripping out the Cyborg Adaptation gear and installing the hardware needed computer hardware in its place. Given that its probably cheaper than the Cyborg Adaptation gear, the money from stripping out and selling the CA components^* would likely cover the price of retooling the Otomo for an AI, and then some.

^*79,500¥, based off the suggested 30% New Retail Value guideline

[Thrass]

I just read about the Mimic option and essentially it does not reproduce what I want...
I want to pass as a human being while being an AI, and no assennsing character will ever take you for one...
While the Biodrones keep their Essence and hence are a living being, have fingerprints, can be scanned for identity...

This AI will have an Addiction for being taken as an actual living being.

[JustADude]

I just read about the Mimic option and essentially it does not reproduce what I want...
I want to pass as a human being while being an AI, and no assennsing character will ever take you for one...
While the Biodrones keep their Essence and hence are a living being, have fingerprints, can be scanned for identity...

This AI will have an Addiction for being taken as an actual living being.

 

Yeah... I really don't think that's gonna be possible at CGen with standard character limits. However, your GM may be nice and Jerry-rig a solution for you. You'll probably pay for it in terms of plot-related hassle, though.

Also, an Assensing mage won't detect anything from a guy with full-body "artificial limb" prosthesis (torso/skull/arms/legs) or a Cyborg inside a Mimic body either. They'll know you're weird in a Mimic-capable drone, but there's several flavors of weird you could be.

[Lethe]

Addiction? How about an ghost-in-the-machine-extension quality.

The character remembers having a past live and tries to get it back.
No inherent programs, but therefore the ability to control biodrones. -2 penalty for another metatype, -1 for same metatype, no penalty, if he gets hold of a clone of his old body.

[UmaroVI]

Put Rigger Adaptation in a PMV, buy a clone, put it in the PMV. Ride around the PMV and claim to be in VR all the time.

[JustADude]

Put Rigger Adaptation in a PMV, buy a clone, put it in the PMV. Ride around the PMV and claim to be in VR all the time.

HAH, nice one!

And the books do rather heavily imply that a built-for-a-human Horseman can fit about anywhere a Troll can. Get one with the Advanced Cargo Module with the arms and boom.