FWIW, here's my attempt at 'extending' the tables, so I can have my robot.

It's a bit of a cheat of course, especially as I've allowed the size 3 frame (8 slots at TL14) to carry 10 slots at TL16.  In fact, I think I can put everything I want into 9 slots.

Not sure if it needs Auto Repair or any armour if its Liquid Metal.  Also, not sure that it needs 'mechatronics' as Liquid Metal.  Could probably assume that's included.

Comments/criticism more than welcome.

Note also, that I've only 'extended' TL ranges for gear and gadgets that I actually want to include, so it's not really complete for others to use as it is unfortunately.  If I wasn't going out for lunch with my parents...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KwnDEeftKsLcPXvhLSxe7LplVRlFdGrDydcntKTU4bw/edit?usp=sharing

Given that hardware on the liquid metal robot frame "must be made from liquid metal also" (p.7)...  fair enough... presumably that includes *everything* including, say, scanners and gadgets etc.  Seems reasonable... This thing is NOT going to be cheap...  :-)

tc



On 12 March 2016 at 07:15, Timothy Collinson <xxxxxx@port.ac.uk> wrote:

On 11 March 2016 at 22:53, Richard Aiken <xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote:
On Fri, Mar 11, 2016 at 3:07 PM, Timothy Collinson <xxxxxx@port.ac.uk> wrote:

I'm trying to design a liquid metal TL16ish  pre-Maghiz 'defensive' robot (or two) for the PCs to, ummm, encounter.  (Die at the hands of?!)


If it's liquid metal, then all of it's components are by definition infinitely reconfigurable. So I don't see any reason why you can't give it component beyond the technical limits by noting that these can only be used if X components are NOT being used. For example, it can only grow itself arms and hands if it's not simultaneously using grav lift. 


That's a good thought and fits nicely with my aim this morning just to fudge the whole thing by 'extending' the tables given to TL16 (or 17) and effectively writing my own rules.  If I'm still not happy it will be off to the 13Mann book.  Which I might do anyway for comparison and the option of including that design as an appendix.

It's also just dawned on me - literally as I lay in bed deciding whether to get up and tackle this or lie around for a bit longer - that the 'Finally' paragraph of the adventure for these scientists, who've been doing their research and writing their papers etc, really ought to be called Endnote.  :-)

Sorry, couldn't resist...

tc