Zeropoint

Re: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic HERO That's what I was trying to get at, in part, with my "Quadrapedal" Physical Complication--in practice, a pony can manipulate things with their hooves and mouth just as well as we can with our hands (how do they do that with their hooves? don't ask, it's just part of the setting). For instance, on a few occasions, a pegasus pony is shown writing with a pencil in her mouth. However, they also need all four legs for walking. A pony could use a clipboard and pencil to take notes, but could NOT do so while walking. A pony can't use a two-handed weapon--and indeed, when the Apple family is preparing to defend their farm, they're shown holding farming implements in their mouths. Also, compared to a human or other biped, they'll have a little more difficulty walking and climbing. Pinkie Pie is a special case, in that she . . . is not bound by the laws of time, space, or reason. Twilight Sparkle can teleport; Pinkie Pie just sort of already is somewhere. You know, I can't recall any specific examples of a Pegasus getting her wings fouled, but a Restrainable limitation seems reasonable to me. It's a tough call. When Applejack and Rainbow Dash compete, it's clear that Applejack is stronger and faster (on the ground) (and slightly less agile), but she's also had a lifetime of physical labor to develop her muscles. Part of my motivation for giving earth ponies all those stats was to make the packages balance a bit better; I'm not entirely certain that necessary or even a particularly good idea. By the way, my thanks to all of you for participating in this conversation.

Re: Cybernetics and Bioengineering: what are YOUR limits? This is the standard tautology argument that I mentioned--"computers will never be able to think because thinking is something computers will never be able to do." You know, men of science have invoked the "special something" or "lifeforce" concept before. For a time, certain chemical compounds were known to be present in living things, but attempts to synthesize those compounds in a lab failed. It was hypothesized that some sort of "vital force" found only in living things was required to create these "organic compounds". In 1828, a German chemist named Friedrich Wohler synthesized the compound urea, a substance previously only created in living kidneys. While this didn't immediately overthrow vitalism, chemists were eventually able to say with certainty that living bodies do NOT have anything special, and are simple chemical reactors following the same laws as anything else. Today, we find ourselves in a similar situation, regarding informational instead of chemical processes. We see certain informational processes taking place in artificial computational systems, and we note that some processes occurring in the human brain are not represented there. It's tempting to answer to our egos and assume that we have "something special" that "cannot be duplicated", but to my knowledge, there is no empirical evidence to suggest this. The issue is further complicated by the fact that we don't have a good definition of what it means to "think" or "be conscious." Can we objectively determine if someone or something is exhibiting "true human-level thought"--that is, make a decision without resorting to our human chauvinism or a subjective "gut feeling"? If the behaviors that constitute "true human thought" are clearly and objectively defined, won't that make it much easier to program a computer to meet the standard?

Re: Cybernetics and Bioengineering: what are YOUR limits? You know, I've never heard an argument for that position that didn't boil down to either "computers will never be able to think because thinking is something computers can't do" or "computers will never be able to think because that would be scary".

Re: Cybernetics and Bioengineering: what are YOUR limits? Would I balk at things connected to the brain? The real question is, why stop there? I'm currently running on an inefficient blob of greasy meat. A lump of computronium the same size would have room for me to upgrade to demi-god levels and still have a harem of a hundred lovely catgirls along for the ride. I'm all for casting off the limits of flesh, but I'd like to retain the option to appear as a stock human and interact with the world as one, when I felt like it.

Re: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic HERO In the show, Pegasus ponies have the ability to interact with clouds as though they were mostly solid objects, like a pile of cotton batting or snow. They can walk on them, curl up on one for a nap, push them around, kick them out of the sky, or squeeze weather out of them (which I figure is more of a setting feature than a special ability). Using a limited form of flight was my first thought, but it seemed odd to do that for something that could already fly. Then it occurred to me, they're treating something not solid as though it were, and there's an advantage for that. That's a good question . . . now that you mention it, the only time I can remember wings being used for anything but flying was a couple of guards extending their wings to block a door. Maybe I could drop this and tone down the Earth Pony stats.

Re: Help me fill my town. Mr. Carter, the miller. Mr. Miller, the baker. Mr. Baker, the wainwright. Mr. Wainwright, the cooper. Mr. Cooper, the carter. You deserve that knighthood, Sir Pratchett.

Hi, folks. After seeing so many music videos and movie trailer mashups with the new My Little Pony show, I decided to have an open mind and watch the pilot . . . yep, I got hooked. One of the things which attracted me is that the show depicts a world with wild untamed areas, dangers, and monsters--in other words, a world suitable for gaming. Accordingly, I'm trying my hand a writeup for the three main types of ponies. The Physical Complication: Quadrapedal that I'm using is supposed to reflect that while the ponies can use their front hooves to manipulate things, they still need all four legs to walk or run properly, and also the fact that their body plan makes certain things awkward. Anyway, here goes: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earth Pony: Physical Complication: Quadrapedal. Infrequently, Slightly. -10 +3 Strength 3 +4 Constitution 4 +1 Physical Defense 1 +1 Energy Defense 1 +2 Recovery 2 +5 Endurance 1 +3 Body 3 +6 Stun 3 Total complication value: (10) Total attribute value: 18 Pegasus: Physical Complication: Quadrapedal. Infrequently, Slightly. -10 Flight, 16m, Restrainable(-1/2) 11 Extra Limbs, Limited Manipulation(-1/4) 4 Cloudwalking: 5 Naked Advantage: Affects Desolidified, Clouds Only (+1/4) For up to 20 STR Total complication value: (10) Total ability value: 20 Unicorn: Physical Complication: Quadrapedal. Infrequently, Slightly. -10 Telekinesis, STR 10, No Range(-1/2) 10 Unicorn Magic (Pick 10 AP worth) 10 Total complication value: (10) Total ability value: 20 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I wouldn't bother adjusting the "cloudwalking" ability upward for the occasional Pegasus with more than 20 strength, myself--I'm using the system in "toolkit" mode here to create a new ability. Anyway, that's my first draft. Comments and suggestions would be very welcome!

Re: "Neat" Pictures There's at least two things in that pic that I'd like to ride.

Re: Sawed Off Shotguns AOE: Cone is way too generous, I think. While I've never had any experience with a sawed-off shotgun (don't feel like paying the BATF fee), a cylinder bore coach gun with 18" barrels yields a spread of less than two feet at ten yards. I don't imagine a sawed-off shotgun would yield much more spread. Having used a shotgun for cowboy action shooting, I can tell you that they're not the area effect weapons that they're sometimes made out to be. It's entirely possible to miss.

Re: A real laser pistol? Power from vacuum? Photons affecting more than one electro Yeah, it sounds like someone has not fully grasped what "more efficient solar cells" really means. If such a thing really existed, it would change EVERYTHING. Well, except medical tech, I guess.

Re: Guards and Soldiers Well, if we're allowed to do thinly-veiled "tributes", then here's mine: The Span-Torchers This squad of sappers specialized in unconventional warfare and combat engineering. Members include both men and women of any race or ethnic group, provided they have half a brain and show dedication to the unit. They are equipped with helm and chainmail armor, and armed with crossbows for ranged combat and shield and shortsword for close-quarters fighting. If available in the setting, they will make heavy and disturbingly creative use of alchemical munitions. Their creativity is linked to a lack of respect for tradition and authority, but how much of a disadvantage that is will depend on the commander.

Re: The Random Gizmo Generator Well, if I used an Arduino to control a food dehydrator, then I'd have a "computerized thermal moisture reducer", and I suspect that most people use a "dual phonics emission mechanism" to listen to music. But yeah, most of it is gibberish.

Re: Cool Guns for your Games What, Lilliputians are all left-handed?

Re: .600 Nitro Express Revolver What, you mean people who enjoy hunting animals have an interest in the continued existence of those animals? I . . . that's just incomprehensible!

Re: Personal Companion Bots. and a months long voyage.... Companion bots will be as weak and flimsy as they can get away with being; certainly no stronger or more durable than a well-developed human male. I know that it's common, almost universal, to think that robots will by default be stronger and tougher than human beings, but this idea doesn't hold up when you think of them as manufactured devices. You see, strength costs money: more powerful actuators are more expensive than weaker actuators. Durability costs money--stronger, thicker structural elements cost more than weaker, thinner structural elements. "But wait!" you say, "Advanced technology will mean more power and strength in a cheaper, smaller package!" Of course that's true, but it just means that the minimum to do the job will be cheaper and smaller--no matter how cheap a material is, MORE of it will always cost more than LESS of it. An actuator that puts out X torque will always be cheaper than one that puts out 2X torque. If you're not convinced, think about cars. Your daily driver COULD be made with all the advanced technology that goes into cutting-edge race cars, and it would be a better car for it. So why doesn't it have all that? Because it doesn't NEED it to do its job, and you wouldn't pay for it if it were available. So in conclusion, yeah, if you go for the "Amazon" model of companion bot, she might be stronger than the average man, but certainly not superhuman.

Re: Dwarves with No Spirits Makes sense to me; a PRE attack is all about the effects on the "victim". Once, a lightning bolt struck "near" me and I broke and ran a few yards before my brain reminded me that it had already happened and missed. I got successfully presence attacked by something that doesn't even have a character sheet! Regarding PREsence and souls, though: in my opinion, a soul is not needed to be affected by a presence attack. Animals are regarded by many as not having "souls" and they can certainly be affected by presence attacks. A computer program with enough intelligence to have a threat evaluation process could possibly be presence attacked despite not having either soul OR mind . . . although I'd expect its responses to be limited.

Re: Counters to problems? (Such as AoE spam and magic overuse) Egad! There must be orcs near!

Re: Hydra and Multi-Headed Monsters To answer more seriously: 1) The hydra of classical myth grew new two new heads whenever one was cut off. Of course, it's your game and your monster, but it seems to me that if a head is still alive and attached, no new heads sprout, no matter how deeply stunned that head is. 2) Hoo boy, this is a can of worms for sure. Again, it's going to depend on your conception of this particular hydra. Does each head contain a fully functional independent brain? Then it makes sense that you could mind control one into attacking or interfering with the others. But what about controlling the body? Do the heads have to agree on what the body is doing? Maybe the body starts losing actions as the heads struggle for control, and once you have mind-controlled more than half the heads, the body starts doing what you want? 3) Hmm, if you aim for the body and hit the head . . . just roll to see which head? The solution you suggest sounds pretty workable, too. 4) The easiest way to handle this is to say that all the heads are equal: the hydra can survive with just ANY one of the heads, and taking out any one head only affects that head. However, the myths say that the hydra had one head which was immortal . . . which doesn't help it much if it gets cut off, but does suggest a "main head" of some sort. What that means is up to you, though. The Hydra was created by a god to kill a demigod. "Very difficult" could be appropriate.

Re: Hydra and Multi-Headed Monsters I agree; non-lethal attacks are your friend when fighting a hydra. That or fire. On the other hand, the Order of the Stick found an unexpected benefit to making a hydra grow as many heads as possible . . .

Re: Personal Companion Bots. and a months long voyage.... But unfortunately, some of us DO. And don't. There would be a market for a companion bot, I'm sure.

Re: Personal Companion Bots. and a months long voyage.... I second that. Build something sapient and give it the same rights and privileges as any other sapient being, or build something non-sapient and make sure it stays that way. Any other course of action leads to gross ethical violations and AI rebellions.

Re: Make Your Own Motivational Poster Now, now, she may be a bit of an airhead, but that's going a bit far!

Re: Personal Companion Bots. and a months long voyage.... Heck, at that price I'd buy one right now in RL. Cheaper in the long run than a maid service, and it's the only way I'll ever see any action.

Re: Future Tech Links I was amused to notice that the aerodynamic railgun projectile looks very much like a scaled-down V2 rocket.

Re: The Badass Sewage Collector, or, "THEY became a hero?" Mr. Nutt from "Unseen Academicals" starts the story as a candle-dribbler at Unseen University. Moist von Lipwig starts as a con artist. Discworld in general is a place where anyone can become a hero.