Automatons and Mental Powers

[JeffreyWKramer]

The discussion of Automatons in the HERO System 5E book states that Automatons are immune to all Mental Powers. What about automatons defined as robots, vs. mental powers such as Telepathy purchased to affect the Machine class of minds? In the case of computers, such mental powers are effective, using INT in place of EGO in the case of non-AI computers.

BTW, just what can mental powers against the Machine class of minds do? Can a person use such powers to shut down/bypass electronic security systems, activate garage door openers, run microwaves, or shut down/control mechanical or electronic Foci?

[Steve Long]

Automatons are immune to Mental Powers, regardless of how you define them. If you think an Automaton should be affected by some Mental Powers -- such as robots' vulnerability to Machine-class Mental Powers -- you can reflect that with a Physical Limitation, as was done for the robots in the HSB and various SH products, and for undead versus necromancy spells in the HSB and various FH products.

As for the second issue, that's too lengthy a subject to go into here; it'll have to wait for The Ultimate Mentalist. ;)