Artificial Intelligence Queries..., Because searching for 'AI' is out... Options

[Fortinbras]

Then you need to calculate the time needed to register those other sprites.
Even still, a fourth of your time being spent to maintain a Lifestyle seems a little much for me. What's a technomancer need all that money for anyway? You hacker's and your highfalutin ways. You don't know what it's like on the streets, man!

As a GM I love the Roommate rule because it encourages all the character's to live together. It makes logistics in storytelling that much simpler and creates a stronger sense of camaraderie. If there were an AI on the team I'd let it be a part of the team's roommate pool and Spoof it's Lifestyle, but each of the qualities represent something differnt than, yet similar to, it's meat world counterpart. Neighborhood, for example, represents how dangerous the node is from roaming sprites, probing hackers, GOD searches and other AIs just wandering around cyberspace.
That is something just buying a commlink doesn't represent; the real dangers and aspects that come with living in such a complex entity as the Matrix full time.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

As a GM I love the Roommate rule because it encourages all the character's to live together. It makes logistics in storytelling that much simpler and creates a stronger sense of camaraderie. If there were an AI on the team I'd let it be a part of the team's roommate pool and Spoof it's Lifestyle, but each of the qualities represent something differnt than, yet similar to, it's meat world counterpart.

As much as I like this Idea, it has been like pulling teeth to get it to actually happen in our groups. The level of trust between characters is not nearly where it should be for stuff like that, even when several of the characters try to set this up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

[Ghost_in_the_Sys...]

Well, let the characters that set it up enjoy the benefits and the ones that don't want in go on paying for their own place.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Well, let the characters that set it up enjoy the benefits and the ones that don't want in go on paying for their own place.

Which is ultimately what happens... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Rubic]

Which is ultimately what happens... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

what's so bad about that? Sharing a lifestyle just means it'll only take one THOR shot to TPK.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

what's so bad about that? Sharing a lifestyle just means it'll only take one THOR shot to TPK.

This is true, but if you have to resort to a Thor Shot to take care of a Shared Lifestyle, well, something is wrong. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Fortinbras]

what's so bad about that? Sharing a lifestyle just means it'll only take one THOR shot to TPK.

Having all roommates home at the same time is a once in a blue moon situation. I shared a room with a guy in Brooklyn because when he came home from work, I was going to school.
The former military street sam is up at dawn for his morning run while the technomancer is just getting home from a rave. Shared space is almost never shared schedule.

Besides, a Thor shot is a GM tool. If I wanted TPK, I could make it happen regardless of the living situation. Ritual magic, snipers or car bombs could all do the same thing for less than 1.2 million. I'm not limited by any minor constraints such as shared location.
Not much of an issue as I'm not a jerk GM.

[Rubic]

Not much of an issue as I'm not a jerk GM.

As a more-often player than GM, I appreciate that. I am, however, of the opinion that players are almost to a one, Jerks. We can smell our own (then again I'm nicer as a GM, except I just don't shy away from Darwin-Checks).

[Makki]

I played an AI for a while. They are limited in many ways, but if you exploit their advantages, they will be awesome.

Innate programs:
-Stealth, double digits here after some karma, like TMs, but without the need of threading and sprites. Which both need skills and fading. An AI is at least invisible, that's an advantage.
-Command. It functions as your attribute when using remote control. Double digits attributes anyone?

Piloting Origin is obligatory: Don't waste karma and BP on skills, just get pirated Autosofts, you may now use them in place of your skills.

[Aria]

I played an AI for a while. They are limited in many ways, but if you exploit their advantages, they will be awesome.

Innate programs:
-Stealth, double digits here after some karma, like TMs, but without the need of threading and sprites. Which both need skills and fading. An AI is at least invisible, that's an advantage.
-Command. It functions as your attribute when using remote control. Double digits attributes anyone?

Piloting Origin is obligatory: Don't waste karma and BP on skills, just get pirated Autosofts, you may now use them in place of your skills.

Whilst I don't disagree on a mechanics front, I object a little bit to there being only 1 optimal configuration (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

Couple more questions:

1. If an AI is homed in a commlink when do you use those (boosted) stats like a hacker would, and when would you use the derived stats? I'm thinking of firewall in particular!

2. Can a jumped in rigger or AI use autosofts on that drone or only their own skills?

Thanks again (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Fortinbras]

1. If an AI is homed in a commlink when do you use those (boosted) stats like a hacker would, and when would you use the derived stats? I'm thinking of firewall in particular!

An AI's Response and Signal are always the same as the node it is in at the time, regardless of it's home node.
It's System and Firewall are independent of any node, including it's home node. It's System is (Logic + Intuition)/2. It's Firewall is (Charisma + Willpower)/2.
Near as I can tell an AI does not gain any benefits from it's home node other than the lack of degradation and Response & Signal; especially not a Simsense Accelerator as those only boost persona and not icons.

2. Can a jumped in rigger or AI use autosofts on that drone or only their own skills?

A rigger uses his own skills. Only an AI with the second level of Piloting Origin can use autosofts.

[Aerospider]

An AI's Response and Signal are always the same as the node it is in at the time, regardless of it's home node.

Just to clarify - Response and Signal come from the node on which the AI is currently running, not the node in which his icon is being projected.

[Fortinbras]

Sort of. If an AI is running in multiple nodes at once, it's Response and Signal are that of the node in which it is taking the action or in the node in which an action is being performed on it.
An AI does not project from any one node the way a persona does. If it is subscribed to a node, it is running on that node. It lives entirely within the Matrix and is not, therefore, confined to any one node. It can exist independently of it's home node for a week without degradation. If it's home node is destroyed, it can make a new one.
An AI affects it's home node far more than said node affects the AI.

[Aria]

Think I follow all of that (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

It seems that until an AI has karma to burn then they aren't going to directly compete with a good hacker or TM (lower progs, less initiative), but as they can be more or less invisible with the Rootkit quality (-6 perception) then I guess toe to toe is not the way to go anyway...

It's just as well that I want to try an AI 'rigger' of sorts anyway (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Aria]

Further to this, can something attack you in the matrix if you attack it but it can't see you (-6 to perception checks and stealth running for example)? ...best policy would be to skirt on by I know but still...?!?

[Teulisch]

well, by RAW it seems it would still need to win an opposed test to see you if stealth is running. but unless you have a mute option on your attack or get a one shot kill, you did just trigger a general alert and a stronger IC response on that node. if multiple agents are looking for you then its harder to stay hidden.

it seems to me that the crash program option is often better than attack. as it gives you a simple opposed role, instead of opposed to hit followed by damage resistance with a condition monitor.

[Aerospider]

Sort of. If an AI is running in multiple nodes at once, it's Response and Signal are that of the node in which it is taking the action or in the node in which an action is being performed on it.
An AI does not project from any one node the way a persona does. If it is subscribed to a node, it is running on that node. It lives entirely within the Matrix and is not, therefore, confined to any one node. It can exist independently of it's home node for a week without degradation. If it's home node is destroyed, it can make a new one.
An AI affects it's home node far more than said node affects the AI.

Oh, see that's not how I've understood it at all. The way I read it the AI does only run on one node at once, but unlike regular personae it can move to run on a different node so long as it has admin privileges there (AFB but the text definitely mentions an admin requirement). Then, from whatever node it is running on it may have subscriptions with other nodes and thereby project its icon into them. If you say that the AI is running on all the nodes it has a subscription to, wouldn't that make it rather vulnerable?

[Fortinbras]

Oh, see that's not how I've understood it at all. The way I read it the AI does only run on one node at once, but unlike regular personae it can move to run on a different node so long as it has admin privileges there (AFB but the text definitely mentions an admin requirement). Then, from whatever node it is running on it may have subscriptions with other nodes and thereby project its icon into them. If you say that the AI is running on all the nodes it has a subscription to, wouldn't that make it rather vulnerable?

I sort of get what you are saying here. You're referencing Runner's Companion p. 88.
An AI only exists in one node at a time, but creates icons in other nodes to which it has subscriptions. It does this the same way any regular Matrix user would.
When controlling it's icon, the AI is operating within the node it exists. It's Response and Signal are that of the node in which it is operating, not any node to which it has a subscription.
It can change nodes with a Complex action and admin access.

It's icon still vulnerable to Matrix damage the same way any icon is. I'm not sure what you mean by "projecting", but it is still vulnerable to detection, damage and tracking the same as any icon operating within that node would be.
An AI is more vulnerable than a hacker or a technomancer in that it is more easily traced, but it makes up for that vulnerability in spades by having no meat body and only being killable three ways.

[Aria]

Following an AI gen thread someone said AIs don't get a hot sim bonus for jumped in so what is the point of lvl 1. of pilot origin as remote control would give better bonuses?

[Aerospider]

Following an AI gen thread someone said AIs don't get a hot sim bonus for jumped in so what is the point of lvl 1. of pilot origin as remote control would give better bonuses?

The hot sim bonus applies to remote control as much as jumping in and an AI gets neither, so reasons for jumping in are the same as for fleshy riggers -

1 - The Command program slows you down because every action is a complex action, including free actions like changing a device mode. Jumping in allows you to run at full speed.

2 - Jumping in automatically blocks out all other commands to the drone/vehicle, legitimate or otherwise, including spoof attempts.

Plus, AIs don't have to worry about dumpshock.

[Ghost_in_the_Sys...]

2 - Jumping in automatically blocks out all other commands to the drone/vehicle, legitimate or otherwise, including spoof attempts.

It does? I can understand many commands being overridden quickly, but I don't remember anything ever saying that it blocked command and spoof attempts entirely. In fact, I'm fairly sure I remember seeing a command to kick off the rigger as being a good way to disrupt drones.

[Aerospider]

It does? I can understand many commands being overridden quickly, but I don't remember anything ever saying that it blocked command and spoof attempts entirely. In fact, I'm fairly sure I remember seeing a command to kick off the rigger as being a good way to disrupt drones.

SR4a p.246 under ELECTRONIC WARFARE - HACKING AND SPOOFING

"Such hijacking attempts against your drones can be foiled by jumping into a device. A jumped-in rigger overrides any other control of the drone, including by its Pilot."

[Ghost_in_the_Sys...]

Hmm, I'd still think you could try and disconnect the rigger, but I suppose not. Cool, thanks for that.

[Aerospider]

Hmm, I'd still think you could try and disconnect the rigger, but I suppose not. Cool, thanks for that.

Oh yeah, you can still mess with the rigger himself but control of the device is off-limits until you do.

[phlapjack77]

Plus, AIs don't have to worry about dumpshock.

I think I know why you said this - DS occurs only if the user is in VR, and VR requires simsense, and AIs can't do simsense...can't find the reason AIs can't do simsense tho...

Oh yeah, you can still mess with the rigger himself but control of the device is off-limits until you do.

This makes sense - if you're jumped in, you ARE the vehicle, so of course you're going to ignore commands that don't originate from yourself (and you're likely to know if you just ordered the vehicle to power down) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)