Robot Characters and Rune Weapons ..

[Lenwen]

A Robot character that is not truely "Alive" as per Argent Goodson ..

Picks up an keeps Sea Slayer Sword (Rifts Underseas pg174) from a killed "Minion" ..

Can that Robot character effect the Swords magical abilities and would the Rune weapon bond itself to the Robot Character or not considering that the Robot Character is not truly alive ?

Thank you for your consideration.

[The Dark Elf]

Good Question.

I am gonna leap out there and say yes. Your robot has an alignment so thats ok and I am unsure as to whether its the "soul", "brain", "body", "mind" or what the sword actually bonds to. Ive not seen any rune swords bonded to a normal animal (maybe Lassie) so is it the intelligience it bonds to....

So, if its suits your game, yes. If its doesnt, then no! Would be a good surprise for then NPC's as the initial thought would be "no problem if the robot has a rune weapon as he cant bond to it". Then when they see he has....

[sHaka]

I'm going to say no. A robot is just a mudane, mechanical golem in my book, and I wouldn't allow a Golem to either.

[Lenwen]

Good Question.

Thank you

[sennin]

I would say with the basic AIs - no. The alignment listed is more about programming.

With Neural Intelligence - Maybe. If they "evolve" to a point kind of like Archie, then yes.

Transferred intelligence - Yes. You pretty much have the mind and soul of a person in a robot body.

[Balabanto]

I would say that the choice is up to the GM, and it depends on the robot. This isn't D+D with a highly codified rules set, or even Hero, with automaton powers. This is Rifts. LOTS of stuff is case by case.

[Greyaxe]

No and No, unless the Robot had PPE.

[Balabanto]

I would argue that the Rune weapon can still be used in Melee Combat, however. PPE is irrelevant to how much damage it does when you swing it.

[Nekira Sudacne]

Sentient robots, yes. Random drones, no.

[Cybermancer]

No, I wouldn't let even a sophisticated Android such as one A.R.C.H.I.E.-3 could create use the powers of a Rune weapon.

But rune weapons are themselves intelligent and it may choose to use it's powers on it's own accord.

An A.I. that is like A.R.C.H.I.E.-3 itself might be able to however. A.R.C.H.I.E.-3 has psionics so a similar A.I. may be able to communicate with and then bond to a rune weapon or device.

[Library Ogre]

I don't think they can link with the weapon but I think they could hold it with no ill effect. I don't think they could use any of its powers, they can only do the listed damage.

I don't think there is anything in cannon that says it one way or another so it is a GM call.

I would go with this (though I'd make an exception for Transfered Intelligence bots, and, perhaps, 2nd generation neural intelligences with a fair amount of conceptual mutation and adaptation).

[Daniel Stoker]

I would go with this (though I'd make an exception for Transfered Intelligence bots, and, perhaps, 2nd generation neural intelligences with a fair amount of conceptual mutation and adaptation).

Which then leads to Machine Men from Phase World, would they be able to use a Rune Weapon?


Daniel Stoker

[Library Ogre]

I would go with this (though I'd make an exception for Transfered Intelligence bots, and, perhaps, 2nd generation neural intelligences with a fair amount of conceptual mutation and adaptation).

Which then leads to Machine Men from Phase World, would they be able to use a Rune Weapon?


Daniel Stoker

Probably not, but then, they're specifically mentioned as being non-magical in most ways.

[Lenwen]

I would go with this (though I'd make an exception for Transfered Intelligence bots, and, perhaps, 2nd generation neural intelligences with a fair amount of conceptual mutation and adaptation).

Which then leads to Machine Men from Phase World, would they be able to use a Rune Weapon?


Daniel Stoker

Probably not, but then, they're specifically mentioned as being non-magical in most ways.

So being non magical means can not use Rune weapons ?

If that is true then whats the name of that race that is from Atlantis that is totally immune to magic again ? They would not be able to use Rune WEapons if that is the case at the moment.

[Killer Cyborg]

Since there is no person there to bond with, a Rune Weapon would not normally be able to bond with a robot unless it was Transferred Intelligence.

On the other hand, some robots have psionic powers, and there might well be one out there with Telemechanics, which could lead to some interesting things.
Such a rune sword might be able to at least work with an advanced robot, essentially letting the robot use the weapon's powers simply by the user asking the weapon to do it, since communication would be possible.
A GM might even decide that a specific rune weapon might be able to actually bond with robots, or perhaps one specific weapon might bond with one specific robot.

For lower order robots, skelebots and other simple robot intelligences, a rune weapon with Telemechanics could likely simply use the bot as a surrogate in place of a living host. This would not be a partnership or actual bonding, simply the sword using the bot as an extension of itself, a kind of puppet with telemechanic strings. This would work even better if the weapon has TM Possession.

[Greyaxe]

I would go with this (though I'd make an exception for Transfered Intelligence bots, and, perhaps, 2nd generation neural intelligences with a fair amount of conceptual mutation and adaptation).

Which then leads to Machine Men from Phase World, would they be able to use a Rune Weapon?


Daniel Stoker

Probably not, but then, they're specifically mentioned as being non-magical in most ways.

So being non magical means can not use Rune weapons ?

If that is true then whats the name of that race that is from Atlantis that is totally immune to magic again ? They would not be able to use Rune WEapons if that is the case at the moment.

Not at all true, Hawrk-ohl they have PPE, (all life does) and while they are not intelligent enough to cast spells (Atlantis pg 76, they are not very intelligent and rely on instinct and self preservation) the Rune weapon could bond with them and cast spells on behalf of the wielder. They can use rune weapons. I would argue that being alive and able to communicate with the Weapon on an empathic level (at minimum to determine alignment) is a requirement. Otherwise the weapon will reject the wieldier and inflict damage to the wieldier as described on page 128 Atlantis (point number 8 regarding alignments and consequences of dissimilar alignments). Regardless of the rules Robots do not have alignments. They do what they are programmed to do.

[grandmaster z0b]

So if a robot with transferred intelligence or one that is alive like Archie can bond with a Rune weapon, could they be affected by a soul drinking rune weapon attack?

[Killer Cyborg]

So if a robot with transferred intelligence or one that is alive like Archie can bond with a Rune weapon, could they be affected by a soul drinking rune weapon attack?

Of course.

[grandmaster z0b]

So if a robot with transferred intelligence or one that is alive like Archie can bond with a Rune weapon, could they be affected by a soul drinking rune weapon attack?

Of course.

Don't they have to draw blood, or would some sort of robotic fluid do: oil, anti-freeze, hydraulic fluid etc.

[Killer Cyborg]

So if a robot with transferred intelligence or one that is alive like Archie can bond with a Rune weapon, could they be affected by a soul drinking rune weapon attack?

Of course.

Don't they have to draw blood, or would some sort of robotic fluid do: oil, anti-freeze, hydraulic fluid etc.

I forgot about the blood.

Personally, I'd allow other robotic fluids to work.
For that matter, I'd consider counting electricity.

[drewkitty ~..~]

A Robot character that is not truely "Alive" as per Argent Goodson ..

Picks up an keeps Sea Slayer Sword (Rifts Underseas pg174) from a killed "Minion" ..

Can that Robot character effect the Swords magical abilities and would the Rune weapon bond itself to the Robot Character or not considering that the Robot Character is not truly alive ?

Thank you for your consideration.

Pure AI: no, can only use rune weapons as a weapon.
Transfered intel: might be able to use the rune thingy's magical functions.

a AI robot has no life/soul so can't interact with the magic inside the rune thingy. Also, since it has not soul, it can be soul sucked.

This is why rune thinys don't work on machine people and why they can't interact with TW thingys also.(unless they have a physical triger of some sort and made to be mundane useable.

[Greyaxe]

So if a robot with transferred intelligence or one that is alive like Archie can bond with a Rune weapon, could they be affected by a soul drinking rune weapon attack?

Of course.

Don't they have to draw blood, or would some sort of robotic fluid do: oil, anti-freeze, hydraulic fluid etc.

I forgot about the blood.

Personally, I'd allow other robotic fluids to work.
For that matter, I'd consider counting electricity.

I disregard "blood" as direct fluid and interprit it to be acual wounds to the target (physical). I would allow a being made of stone who has no "blood" to be affected by soul drinking following a physical wound, despite no fluid.

[Crazy Lou]

Sentient robots, yes. Random drones, no.

Seconded. What type of robot are we talking here (your example suggests this is a specific case that came up in a game)? Is it transfered intelligence, neural network, simple programmed (like skelebot), or what?

[Incriptus]

I say allow it . . . off of nothing but the fun factor. If the magic in the sword thinks its in the hands of a living being it will treat its will as any other.

side note: anyone remember the 50 robot vehical from Patheons that could connect a rune sword to its weilder through a TW addition

[Cybermancer]

I say allow it . . . off of nothing but the fun factor. If the magic in the sword thinks its in the hands of a living being it will treat its will as any other.

side note: anyone remember the 50 robot vehical from Patheons that could connect a rune sword to its weilder through a TW addition

Yes.

[Crazy Lou]

I say allow it . . . off of nothing but the fun factor. If the magic in the sword thinks its in the hands of a living being it will treat its will as any other.

side note: anyone remember the 50 robot vehical from Patheons that could connect a rune sword to its weilder through a TW addition

Yes.

Those are the kind of things that set wonderful precedents for all kinds of player created TW stuff.