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Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal

  1. #1781
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya View Post
    Remember, when Phil first started working on Tekumel, Bobby Heinlein's heroes were in their spaceship machine shops cutting cams for the "robot pilot" for course changes.
    Or the fire control computer on my first M48 - analog all the way, with different cams for each type of ammunition. Losing the cams on the turret floor was A Very Bad Thing...

    Glad to hear you are running a "Legions of the Petal Throne" miniatures game at Gary Con this year! While I think an 8:00 am start time (on Thursday, I was told) is a bit mad, all the best - let us know how it comes out, eh?

  2. #1782
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    Quote Originally Posted by chirine ba kal View Post
    Dealing with the military AI was good for literally months of fun!

    No idea - I'm not a computer guy, and neither was Phil.
    It's not about computers, and I'm not a computer guy either, Uncle!
    To me, it's about how to use the most expensive software and hardware possible to get the least effect in ease of use for the end user, thus requiring a bureaucrat's help.
    In other words, I doubt the Lords of Humanspace's bureaucrats were nicer than ours, especially given the evidence from other fields.
    Last edited by AsenRG; 01-18-2016 at 05:44 PM.
    "Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward." - Rocky

  3. #1783
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    Quote Originally Posted by AsenRG View Post
    Well, that part might get slightly updated. I've been considering a Linux-Android hybrid.

    Maybe not having to deal with actual commands, but I'm totally going to borrow inputting through a console, for example!
    Yep. Voice commands, consoles, you name it - Phil had rung the changes on every 1940s and 1950s computer trope. Holograms, vision panels, flat screens, all sorts of displays and androids. You name it, he had it...

  4. #1784
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    Quote Originally Posted by AsenRG View Post
    It's not about computers. It's about how to use the most expensive software and hardware possible to get the least effect in ease of use for the end user, thus requiring a bureaucrat's help.
    In other words, I doubt the Lords of Humanspace's bureaucrats were nicer than ours, especially given the evidence from other fields.
    I'd tend to agree with this, based on what we saw in the campaign!

  5. #1785
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    Quote Originally Posted by chirine ba kal View Post
    I'd tend to agree with this, based on what we saw in the campaign!
    Well, then obviously clear voice commands are out. You need to input the correct command in bureaucratic style via a console, and access to the console is not on the main menu.

    And of course, while the system adapts, the official language is Old Tsolyani, obviously, because legal documents need to be standardized!
    "Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward." - Rocky

  6. #1786
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    Quote Originally Posted by AsenRG View Post
    Well, then obviously clear voice commands are out. You need to input the correct command in bureaucratic style via a console, and access to the console is not on the main menu.

    And of course, while the system adapts, the official language is Old Tsolyani, obviously, because legal documents need to be standardized!
    Well, yes - unless you have one of the 'translator marbles' that you put in your mouth, the system(s) will not accept voice commands in any of the usual languages.

    Unless you happen to speak the forbidden language of Sunuz, that is. It's the language of the Ancients, apparently, and it's what the AIs think and speak in.

    Makes trying to find one of the 'marbles' a really high priority...

    Unless you happen to have a high-class/level Livyani sorcerer handy, that is. They tend to know this kind of recondite thing, which makes their snobbery more tolerable.

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    Since I'm handling them pre-gens, why would I include a Lyviani sorcerer?
    "Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward." - Rocky

  8. #1788
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    Quote Originally Posted by chirine ba kal View Post
    Or the fire control computer on my first M48 - analog all the way, with different cams for each type of ammunition. Losing the cams on the turret floor was A Very Bad Thing...
    Okay, that's both horrifying and hilarious. Hilarious on maneuvers, not so much in battle...

    Quote Originally Posted by chirine ba kal View Post
    Glad to hear you are running a "Legions of the Petal Throne" miniatures game at Gary Con this year! While I think an 8:00 am start time (on Thursday, I was told) is a bit mad, all the best - let us know how it comes out, eh?
    Yeah, I will rise but I refuse to shine.

    I remember playing a game of that with Dave S. himself as ref. You had a certain pool of "magic points" and could put 1-10 into "attack" and "defense" each turn.

    I asked Dave if the enemy knew HOW MUCH I put into each. He said no... if the spell didn't get through you knew your defense was at least equal to his attack but that's it.

    So I started putting up 10 point defense, and 1 point attacks until my sorcerers detected the enemy's shield collapsing.

    The look on the enemy commander's face when the first DOOMKILL landed squarely on his legion of Shen mercenaries holding his center still keeps me warm at night.
    I don't care if you respect me, just buy my fucking book.

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  9. #1789
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    Quote Originally Posted by AsenRG View Post
    Since I'm handling them pre-gens, why would I include a Lyviani sorcerer?
    Oh, I don't know. Maybe you have one sitting around spare, or something...

  10. #1790
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya View Post
    Okay, that's both horrifying and hilarious. Hilarious on maneuvers, not so much in battle...



    Yeah, I will rise but I refuse to shine.

    I remember playing a game of that with Dave S. himself as ref. You had a certain pool of "magic points" and could put 1-10 into "attack" and "defense" each turn.

    I asked Dave if the enemy knew HOW MUCH I put into each. He said no... if the spell didn't get through you knew your defense was at least equal to his attack but that's it.

    So I started putting up 10 point defense, and 1 point attacks until my sorcerers detected the enemy's shield collapsing.

    The look on the enemy commander's face when the first DOOMKILL landed squarely on his legion of Shen mercenaries holding his center still keeps me warm at night.
    Yep. And this was in 1976, too. You had to make your ammunition choices in good time, or you'd have to use the gun tube to fire over open sights. Worked with AP and APHE, but not with HE or squashheads. You didn't care, with beehives, as for those we just looked through the bore.

    "Legions" is a fun game; I still use it for Qadarni battles, as it's quick and fast. The bases sizes are a little off, but I never worry about that.

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