I had a player come up with a character concept that he ended up not using but that I think is freaking cool. I am probably going to steal it as an NPC, but I had some questions as to exactly what type of gear/software/upgrades/etc might make this work best. I'm not a power gamer, so optimizing a character just doesn't come naturally to me.
The idea is that the character has a swarmoid primary morph and a worker pod (or pleasure pod) secondary morph. The worker pod carries around the swarmoid in a container (maybe a backpack) and is puppetted from the character who is existing inside the swarmoid unless he needs to leave the backpack for surveilance, etc.
My questions are:
-While puppetting the pod, would there be a distraction penalty to what the swarm is doing?
-Can something like multitasking alleviate that type of penalty?
-Is there some way for the swarmoid to leave the pod behind and yet not leave the pod completely vulnerable (other than making sure it is in a safe place)?
-What other things might make this sort of build particularly effective? The character is one that acts as a scout but wants to have the ability to interact with people and objects more naturally when it is called for.
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Swarmoid puppetting a Pod
Tue, 2012-03-13 12:04
#1
apizzagirl
Swarmoid puppetting a Pod
Tue, 2012-03-13 13:12
#2
Decimator
Re: Swarmoid puppetting a Pod
I can answer some of this. He could give the pod an ai to provide it autonomy while he isn't puppeteering it. Also, other than being able to actually carry things, he'll be able to access areas that normally wouldn't permit a swarmanoid.
Tue, 2012-03-13 13:47
#3
nezumi.hebereke
Re: Swarmoid puppetting a Pod
Yes. Check out the rules on page 196. If the swarm is just 'remote controlling' (captain's chair in SR lingo), there's no penalty, but they have to take actions to send commands to the pod, and the pod suffers a -10 penalty. If the swarm is 'jamming' (rigging in SR lingo), there's no penalty to acting through the pod, but the swarm's actions suffer a -60 penalty.
Seems reasonable.
A fork or AI.
I can think of a number of flaws here which are likely to be exploited, so the PC needs to account for them. Firstly, this is a wireless connection that can be exploited. It's not a big change, since the swarmanoid already faces this vulnerability, but it's putting a lot of eggs in one basket. The swarmanoid may want to look at a hardline connection from the bag to the pod, focus on the EMP protection, and infosec.
The pod needs to be treated as disposable, because it will be. When things hit the fan, or when egocasting somewhere, the pod will be the first thing on the chopping block. However, this cuts both ways. Once you're willing and planned for disposing of a morph, you can start loading it out so it is disposed of in a most beneficial and ... colorful way. Make sure it has a deadswitch, or something equivalent to keep data from falling into the wrong hands.
Tue, 2012-03-13 15:48
#4
Quincey Forder
Re: Swarmoid puppetting a Pod
my recommandation would be for either a Delta Fork (sans Chuck Norris) linked through VPN with the main ego in the swarmoid
now would be be wicked is for the POD to wear the swarmoid like clothing, until it deploys
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Wed, 2012-03-14 09:41
#5
apizzagirl
Re: Swarmoid puppetting a Pod
These are all great ideas. Thanks!
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-Karin
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Mon, 2012-03-19 17:27
#6
levi
Re: Swarmoid puppetting a Pod
I was running the same concept in a game. I ran with a swarm and a synth, with a compartment for the swarm. I paid for an extra set of access jacks in the compartment, so one bug would plug in and jam the synth. My intentions were to let the synth get nearly destroyed, then "eject" from the synth and escape. Sadly, the game has fallen apart.
Great concept, though. Surprised it hasn't popped up more.
Mon, 2012-03-19 20:40
#7
Lord High Munchkin
Re: Swarmoid puppetting a Pod
I still like the idea of a snyth made of soft plastic (effectively basically a masked humanoid bag synth held up by pressurised liquid supports) that contains a swarm.
The synth gets destroyed/malfunctions/becomes expendable, whatever, and the swarm pours out of the collapsing plastic sack synth... preferably via the mouth.
Tue, 2012-03-20 09:18
#8
apizzagirl
Re: Swarmoid puppetting a Pod
I don't know why I'm fixated on my swarmoid being carried around by a pod (probably a pleasure pod) instead of any other kind of morph. Perhaps its this vision of Babydoll from Sucker Punch ominously releasing a swarm and then going blank as an AI takes over the body while the actual consciousness within leaves.
—
-Karin
http://www.twitter.com/pizzakarin