Fractal Softworks Forum

Starsector => Suggestions => Topic started by: Dri on April 23, 2017, 09:03:28 PM

Title: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: Dri on April 23, 2017, 09:03:28 PM
Given the description of the AI cores, especially the Alphas, it seems a crying shame to simply peddle them off for credits/rep. I mean, even in the tutorial a "lowly" Gamma Core was able to re-stabilize a flippin' jump point by simply using a ship's engine!

Add a new equipment slot to ships so you can place an AI Core into them to boost OP or something. So you gotta choose between selling off that Alpha Core or having it enhance a ship in some way.

Enable them to be slotted into the upcoming Outposts to boost production or have them run your own drone defense/guardian fleets.

Their current role as money tokens just doesn't match up with their rad descriptions!

Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: Alex on April 23, 2017, 09:04:33 PM
Their current role as money tokens just doesn't match up with their rad descriptions!

Yeah, it certainly doesn't. :-X
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: Histidine on April 23, 2017, 09:28:48 PM
Totally random idea (spoilers for [REDACTED])
Spoiler
Beta Cores can be turned into a Remnant-style officer to put on a ship.
Alpha Cores can be turned into a super officer that can go past the usual max level.

For extra "fun", AI officers can go rogue, revolt and space all the crew on the ship (or in the case of the alpha version, your whole fleet). Oh, and if a Luddic customs patrol catches you with one of these, they declare war on you instantly. Fun for the whole family!
[close]
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: Dri on April 23, 2017, 09:33:39 PM
Ahh, that's a cool idea Histidine.

There are all sorts of ways they could be made more meaningful!
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: DeMatt on April 23, 2017, 09:36:28 PM
Add a new equipment slot to ships so you can place an AI Core into them to boost OP or something. So you gotta choose between selling off that Alpha Core or having it enhance a ship in some way.

Enable them to be slotted into the upcoming Outposts to boost production or have them run your own drone defense/guardian fleets.
...and run the risk of having them decide to run off with your ship/the defense fleet?  Space all the crew (they only work for one-third of the day, the pikers!) and replace them and their living quarters with machinery?

I think most of the Sector would be really leery of letting something as alien as an AI have more authority than absolutely necessary.
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: Dri on April 23, 2017, 09:49:31 PM
Well as Histidine said, there could be a "fun" risk vs reward type deal going on with that. >8D

But yeah, hopefully they get worked into the game a bit more in some form or fashion...
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: tinsoldier on April 23, 2017, 10:08:37 PM
Totally random idea (spoilers for [REDACTED])
Spoiler
Beta Cores can be turned into a Remnant-style officer to put on a ship.
Alpha Cores can be turned into a super officer that can go past the usual max level.

For extra "fun", AI officers can go rogue, revolt and space all the crew on the ship (or in the case of the alpha version, your whole fleet). Oh, and if a Luddic customs patrol catches you with one of these, they declare war on you instantly. Fun for the whole family!
[close]

Ohh I like it.  What if any AI core could be used to pilot a ship in lieu of a human officer.  Or for that matter, what if it was *required* and every new ship came with an el-cheapo gamma core but you could replace it with a human officer that can learn new skills OR replace with a higher level core OR if you're lucky, you get an alpha and it maybe it has some unique capabilities that human officers can't get?
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: intrinsic_parity on April 23, 2017, 11:46:00 PM
Maybe in the future, you could have multiple fleets and have AI cores control your other fleets doing stuff like transporting the resources you mine/produce at your outposts back to markets.
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: RickyRio on April 23, 2017, 11:59:24 PM
Their current role as money tokens just doesn't match up with their rad descriptions!

Yeah, it certainly doesn't. :-X

I think its a very safe bet that they are going to be a primary crafting component of outposts/any sort of ship construction.
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: Megas on April 24, 2017, 05:14:01 AM
From the looks of the cores lore, they seem like bound demons in space.  They are powerful, treacherous, and evil.  If one escapes, things will end badly.
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: Clockwork Owl on April 24, 2017, 07:17:51 AM
Spoiler
Oh, sorry admiral... I think one of my sub-processors mis-fired a torpedo at your ship. Send in a lifeboat? I 'm afraid I can't do that... *creepy digital cackle*
[close]
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: Bastion.Systems on April 30, 2017, 12:29:21 PM
I would so love to have a mischievous alpha level AI officer. Though that would possibly make the church send the knights after me.
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: BillyRueben on April 30, 2017, 02:32:55 PM
From the looks of the cores lore, they seem like bound demons in space.  They are powerful, treacherous, and evil.  If one escapes, things will end badly.

This. I'm still waiting for the whole "you must unite the sector against the machines" thing that is almost certainly coming.
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: TrashMan on April 30, 2017, 05:25:11 PM
Given the description of the AI cores, especially the Alphas, it seems a crying shame to simply peddle them off for credits/rep. I mean, even in the tutorial a "lowly" Gamma Core was able to re-stabilize a flippin' jump point by simply using a ship's engine!

Add a new equipment slot to ships so you can place an AI Core into them to boost OP or something. So you gotta choose between selling off that Alpha Core or having it enhance a ship in some way.

Enable them to be slotted into the upcoming Outposts to boost production or have them run your own drone defense/guardian fleets.

Their current role as money tokens just doesn't match up with their rad descriptions!

Nerf core descriptions.
Problem solved.
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: xenoargh on April 30, 2017, 05:26:09 PM
Quote
I'm still waiting for the whole "you must unite the sector against the machines" thing that is almost certainly coming.
I totally want this to happen, lol.
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: Wyvern on April 30, 2017, 07:00:55 PM
...You know, this sounds like an excellent opportunity for a creative mod developer...  >.>
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: King Alfonzo on April 30, 2017, 07:17:21 PM
How about this: Use up AI cores to increase officer skills over the maximum (extra three points). So 6 gamma cores, 3 beta cores or 1 alpha core to increase up 1 level. Using the cores, however, can prove troublesome to the officer, causing a random change in attitude each time you do it. Do you risk making your awesome level 20 steady officer timid? Or do you instead grind up a useless timid officer to level 20, then use cores to get a reckless officer?

Alternatively use Gamma cores to get a level 3 steady officer that does not progress, Beta cores for Level 6 reckless/steady officer with opportunity to progress up to level 12, and Alpha cores for Level 10 reckless/steady officer that can progress to level 20. All ships with AI crew hullmods get improvements to firing and maneuverability, but higher deployment costs. Downside - AI officers are considered Banned goods, and you will lose huge rep for being discovered with them.
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: Etgfrog on May 01, 2017, 04:23:28 AM
The description says the beta core is equal to a human.
There also is several mentions in station descriptions of the 2nd ai war that resulted in the situation that exists now where there are fights but no one is trying to conquer each other.
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: FooF on May 01, 2017, 07:35:38 AM
I think putting cores into your ships would be quite interesting.

Gamma: Number-cruncher. Improves efficiency in ships in a variety of ways. Increases fuel efficiency, gives you better targeting (leading pip?!), maybe gives you slight speed boost, etc. Very small chance of going rogue but considered illegal so authorities will confiscate the ship and you'll get a major rep hit.

Beta: In lieu of an officer, you can use a Beta. Has fixed (random) skills that can't be improved upon but has an overall higher level than any officer (say level 25). Has a small chance (~5%) of going rogue mid-battle. If it does, it will fight against you and/or try to escape. Even more illegal than gamma. 

Alpha: Super-officer if installed. Like the Beta, fixed skills that can't be improved but level 40. Also gives huge boosts to non-armor/hull stats of ship. Trump card, albeit dangerous to use. ~20% chance of going rogue in any particular fight. Getting caught with one of these is instant-hostility with a faction.

Alpha+: Mentioned in lore. Only a few in the sector. Can't be installed on a ship but has [plot] purposes and while its in your possession, your whole fleet gets huge stat boosts. Manipulates everything you see/contact with. Will blind you to large enemies, make you chase after ghosts (non-existent bounties/distress calls, tips toward riches, etc.), give missions that are traps. It's the One Ring that wants to be found by a dark master.  :D

Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: goduranus on May 01, 2017, 01:05:45 PM
You must unite the cores to unlock the mighty Sajuuk :D
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: FooF on May 01, 2017, 07:20:56 PM
You must unite the cores to unlock the mighty Sajuuk :D

Bring Sajuuk to bear! (I love Homeworld but the plot of the sequel was a mess and huge retcon to what was unique to the original).

It would be cool if the AI Cores could somehow get the Gates working, though.
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: DatonKallandor on May 01, 2017, 07:28:50 PM
It would be cool if the AI Cores could somehow get the Gates working, though.

I'm not convinced they didn't do the opposite. If a single, low grade AI core can manipulate jump engine fields enough to mess with natural jump points, then a whole mess of ultra-smart cores can come up with a way to destabilize them too. And then beam that through the gate network.

Also note how in the tutorial, the moment they powered up the gate it sent out the FTL destabilizer. The signal that destroyed the Domain is still being sent or bouncing around the gate network.
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: CrashToDesktop on May 01, 2017, 07:43:33 PM
I think putting cores into your ships would be quite interesting.

Gamma: Number-cruncher. Improves efficiency in ships in a variety of ways. Increases fuel efficiency, gives you better targeting (leading pip?!), maybe gives you slight speed boost, etc. Very small chance of going rogue but considered illegal so authorities will confiscate the ship and you'll get a major rep hit.

Beta: In lieu of an officer, you can use a Beta. Has fixed (random) skills that can't be improved upon but has an overall higher level than any officer (say level 25). Has a small chance (~5%) of going rogue mid-battle. If it does, it will fight against you and/or try to escape. Even more illegal than gamma.  

Alpha: Super-officer if installed. Like the Beta, fixed skills that can't be improved but level 40. Also gives huge boosts to non-armor/hull stats of ship. Trump card, albeit dangerous to use. ~20% chance of going rogue in any particular fight. Getting caught with one of these is instant-hostility with a faction.

Alpha+: Mentioned in lore. Only a few in the sector. Can't be installed on a ship but has [plot] purposes and while its in your possession, your whole fleet gets huge stat boosts. Manipulates everything you see/contact with. Will blind you to large enemies, make you chase after ghosts (non-existent bounties/distress calls, tips toward riches, etc.), give missions that are traps. It's the One Ring that wants to be found by a dark master.  :D
Do note that Gamma and Beta cores are still manually assigned to tasks set before them.  They'll do anything in their power to complete those tasks, even if it means the very direct head-bashing Gammas do or the lying, deceit, and mimicry Betas are capable of, but they will never disobey a direct order.  Alphas, however, *are* capable of forming emotions and attachments, and thus are far, far more dangerous considering their intelligence.  Hence why their descriptions say "at the slightest sign of disloyalty".
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: fleetgothic on May 02, 2017, 10:43:49 AM
Here I am talking to an Alpha core in starsector because I have no friends in life... At least it has "emotions"
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: fleetgothic on May 02, 2017, 10:44:50 AM
That would actually be pretty cool if you could talk to your officers. A bit off topic here. Imagine talking to the Alpha core
Title: Re: Give AI Cores a greater purpose...
Post by: Megas on May 02, 2017, 10:53:03 AM
That would actually be pretty cool if you could talk to your officers. A bit off topic here. Imagine talking to the Alpha core
That would be the malevolent "Talking Pet" in Star Control 2.  Yes, you need him to win the game, but he is evil.  Can be talked to for some laughs.