Bay 12 Games Forum

((Eight new replies while I typed this...totally worth it.))

Will: Present Arguments; EDIT: Spend 50 mana on enhancing argument...something.

"You may be wondering why artificial intelligences should possess emotions. It clearly does no harm to the function of these robots, save for a handful of specific circumstances, but does it do good? Yes. Aside from obvious specific examples, there is a major advantage to emotion simulators. In general, any machine which has an artificial intelligence of any variety installed needs to make predictions, including predictions of the actions of human beings. However, humans are a delicate mixture of emotions. The ICARUS which Kyle has been issued has repeatedly failed in its duties due to making elementary mistakes in predicting and understanding humans, such as making a 'teddy bear' for a small child that looked more like a horror movie prop than a toy and attempting to convince people that they have no reason to live because they cannot reproduce. Such mistakes are ones that even a small child knows not to make, and yet your 'advanced' ICARUS makes them regularly. Meanwhile, HK-47--which ICARUS has repeatedly informed us is an inferior model--has avoided making such blunders.
"These mistakes go far beyond mere diplomatic faux paus, however. Combat units like the ICARUS also benefit from the ability to predict unpredictable human beings, for whom emotions like fear, rage, and zeal often drive combat decisions as much or more than logical tactical decisions. The inability of ICARUS to account for human emotions causes a massive drop in its combat ability; specific numbers are impossible to determine without controlled tests and some arbitrary standard of scoring, but as an individual who has viewed ICARUS in several combat situations, I would estimate that an inability to predict emotions reduces overall combat efficiency by at least 20% in most situations. Beyond such factors, AI coordinating heavy machinery or the like also needs to be able to predict human activity, as preventing human injury or death is of course a primary objective of such systems. These processes are impeded by not having any kind of ability to predict human emotions and hence actions. Name a purpose for an AI, there's a reason that predicting emotional responses is important.
"Now, there is an obvious question: Why do AIs need emotions to predict them? First off, simplicity. When Kyle Johnson made HK-47, he was not attempting to make a personable android so much as a loyal butler. And yet, thanks to his decision to implement an emotional emulator, the android is an interesting combatant and pleasant acquaintance--more so than some humans I have known, in fact. Emotions allow humans and artificial intelligences to predict the actions of humans and the like on a subconscious level, rather than needing to run it through conscious heuristics. On that note, psychology provides additional support for the notion that understanding emotion well requires emotion. Individuals who, through disability or injury, have a malfunction in the parts of their brains associated with emotion tend to become socially impaired...even though they learn or learned how people tend to act. Why would artificial intelligences be different?
"There are other benefits to emotional artificial intelligences, such as being able to predict the robots better, and making robots less grating in noncombat scenarios, but I believe that this argument will suffice for the moment. Thank you."

Just how they are.

It's how they would be IRL, too. They require a lot of power, and don't produce too much thrust in space.

---

A new jet was developed, nicknamed the "Jet Coffin" as it does not have any kind of ejection system like the GoldJet did. It does, however, include convenient dual parachutes and a reaction wheel! It is recommended that you activate the thrust before attempting to fly the Jet Coffin. It did briefly achieve liftoff, but only affter attempts to turn lead to one wing striking the ground at speed and somehow exploding. Followed by the rest of the plane exploding.
Following the unexplained recovery of Pilot J. Kerman, a new Jet Coffin was designed, this one with an ejection function. Also more wings, winglets, and parachutes. The first attempted launch lead to some minor wing explosions in an attempt to straighten out the path down the runway; corrections to avoid falling over lead to the destruction of the other wings and, after the remainder of the plane barreled off the runway into a crowd of observers, falling over in the opposite direction. Jebediah Kerman was killed, but he got better.
Jebediah Kerman flew the Jet Coffin quite successfully. There were worries, as the plane had reached the end of the runway without lifting its landing gear off the tarmac, but these fears proved unfounded as the J.C. number 2 was soon soaring majestically over the ocean. Turning was a bit of an issue with SAS on, and stability an issue with SAS off. Jebediah accidentally pressed the Eject button after achieving an altitude in excess of a kilometer. The parachutes performed admirably and the front part of the plane retrieved not far from shore.

Bill Kerman, pilot of the orbiting spacecraft, is considering EVA but decides to wait until sunrise.

The RC FlyCar is an unmanned vehicle that was looked at with derision and laughter. The laughter increased when a flame-out occurred. The head engineer strapped two new air intakes on, which also failed. The puny radial air intake valved from Vac-Co were replaced with large, bulky fuel tanks and air intakes, complete with engines. Also present was a new bulky device incorporating decouplers and solid fuel tanks which, when asked the purpose of, the head engineer cackled and said "You'll see...you'll see..." Initial testing suggested that their purpose was either to explode, knocking the drone backwards, or to unbalance the drone, making it too heavy to fly. The question of why these were important functions was not answered.
Any connection between this event and the appearance of a large jet thing with similar devices attempting to take off from our runway and exploding is under investigation.

I tried to launch a stock satellite into orbit, but encountered issues when trying to circularize the orbit. For some reason, none of the controls worked. Again. Then I noticed I was in time warp and facepalmed. I ended up with a nice orbit, not too elliptical. A bit over a million meters one way, a bit under two million the other. Inspired, I expand and circularize the orbit of my orbiting thing. Sadly, it no longer has any fuel. The first orbiting chunk of debris has been created.

You know what the problem with this game is? There aren't any good starting stopping points. You just keep playing and playing and suddenly hours are gone.

True. Still, with Will as his lawyer and HK as Exhibit A...

Then how does the Town Golem work?

And would it be impossible to make a rechargeable "battery"? Or maybe link it to someone else, who doesn't use their mana?

"Jeez...I thought you at least would be able to understand the concept of people having different priorities, at least. That's a basic concept of diplomacy and interaction. What sort of idiot programmed you, anyways?"

Seriously. Kyle programmed a more intelligent and empathetic AI, and he's one, somewhat socially impaired, person!

((when ready to go, claim so in bold. People who are issued a visitor pass (or Kyles standard pass) must write their relevant stats up for @Akroma to validate the pass))

Not sure why anything but Mind would be needed, but eh.

Hm.

GM: Is it possible for us to create a golem-like thing that is powered from some outside source--maybe something like the Town Golem?--instead of the creator?

Thoughts about protecting our communication hub lead to me contemplating powered armor.

Selina is unsure of what to do with Angel being sad(?) and wanting to spend time with Maria... and how crowded Richards room is getting.

"I thought Alistair liked me...but he doesn't..."