DEX of Automatons with A.I. brains

[Col. Orange]

In the Automaton section it says an Automaton's INT can be bought down to zero and a computer be added.

If you do this, do you need to buy DEX for the Automation, the A.I. or both?

[Steve Long]

From the Rules FAQ:

 

Q: If an Automaton buys a Computer, must he buy the same DEX for both?

 

A: Since it would be a little unfair to make the Automaton in essence pay double for its DEX, it should only buy up its normal DEX or Computer DEX, one or the other, and use that. If the Automaton’s being bought as a Follower so all the costs get divided by 5 once, it doesn’t matter which one he buys up (though you should still note which one was bought up, in case the two become separated for some reason). If the Automaton’s being built independently (say, by the GM as a monster for a scenario), it must buy up its innate DEX, rather than the Computer’s DEX.

 

If the GM prefers, he can apply this same rule to INT, rather than having the Automaton buy its INT down to 0. However, since Computers have some drawbacks Automatons do not (such as vulnerability to certain Mental Powers), the considerations may not be the same.

 

If, in mid-game, a character replaces an Automaton’s Computer brain with another Computer, the Automaton ends up using the lower of its DEX or the Computer’s DEX.

 

If that doesn't answer your question, please post a follow-up.