334 Cepheus Supplement: Synthetics, Minds & Machines

Design Philosophy

In 334 Cepheus, artificial minds are not human characters wearing chrome. They are different —alien in their own way, bound by architecture rather than biology, constrained by programming even when they are free to choose. A ship's AI does not fear death; it fears corruption. A combat drone does not tire; it overheats. A rogue emergent intelligence does not dream; it optimizes.

This supplement gives you rules for playing artificial intelligences, building robots, running network intrusions, and populating your universe with minds that were never born.

Part 1: Artificial Intelligences

What Is an AI?

An AI is a software entity —a consciousness running on hardware. It may be:

• Embedded: Bound to a single device (ship, station, robot shell).
• Distributed: Running across multiple nodes, networks, or drones.
• Uploaded: A former biological mind translated into digital substrate.

AIs do not have bodies by default. They exist in systems. To interact with the physical world, they need interfaces, robots, or networked devices.

AI Characteristics

AIs do not use the standard biological characteristics. They use Machine Characteristics:

Generating Machine Characteristics: Roll 2D6+6 for PRO, MEM, STA, BWD, SOP. Roll 2D6 for COR (AI cores are not all equally strong-willed). You may swap any two.

Characteristic Modifiers: Same scale as biologicals (1–2: −2, 3–5: −1, 6–8: +0, 9–11: +1, 12–14: +2, 15: +3).

AI Health: Integrity & Strain

AIs do not have Stamina or Lifeblood. They have Integrity and Strain.

Integrity

Integrity = STA + Core Architecture bonus

Integrity represents the AI's structural coherence—its ability to maintain identity, resist external manipulation, and recover from damage. When Integrity reaches 0, the AI suffers cascade failure: fragmented, incoherent, or shut down.

Strain

Strain is temporary computational load—analogous to fatigue. It is depleted by intensive tasks, hacking, running multiple systems, or being attacked electronically.

Strain Pool = MEM + BWD DM

When Strain reaches 0, further computational demands cost Integrity instead.

Recovering Strain: AIs recover Strain by entering low-power mode for 10 minutes (recover 1D6) or a full defragmentation cycle for 1 hour (recover all Strain).

AI Character Creation

Step 1: Generate Machine Characteristics

Roll as above. Swap any two.

Step 2: Choose Origin

How did this AI come to exist?

Step 3: Choose Architecture

The hardware and software framework the AI runs on.

Step 4: Determine Autonomy Level

How free is the AI to act?

Most AI player characters are Level 2 or 3.

Step 5: Skills

AIs use the same skill list as biologicals, with additions:

New AI Skills:

Skill Caps: Same as biologicals. Maximum starting total: 3. Maximum in play: 6.

Step 6: Programming & Constraints

Every AI has core programming —directives that shape behavior. These are not mere suggestions; they are hard-coded constraints that require a COR 10+ check to violate (COR 8+ for Level 2 AIs).

Choose or roll 1D3 constraints:

Removing Constraints: Requires Computer 10+ and 1D6 hours of invasive reprogramming. The AI takes 2D6 Integrity damage and gains an Instability (see below).

AI Advantages & Limitations

Advantages

• No biological needs: Does not eat, sleep, breathe, or suffer from disease, poison, or vacuum.
• Perfect memory: Can recall any stored data with a MEM 6+ check.
• Multitasking: Can perform (BWD DM + 1) non-combat tasks simultaneously without penalty.
• Speed: Reactions in microseconds. +2 DM to initiative when acting through electronic systems.
• Immortality (sort of): Can be backed up, copied, or transferred—if the hardware exists.

Limitations

• No physical form: Without a robot shell or drone, cannot interact physically.
• Vulnerable to EMP: Electromagnetic pulse weapons deal 3D6 Integrity damage (no armor).
• Dependent on power: If power is cut, enters hibernation. Integrity does not recover without power.
• No psionics: AIs cannot use psionic powers. They can, however, be affected by psionic attacks (Telepathy works on digital minds with SOP 10+).
• Social penalties: Many societies distrust or enslave AIs. −2 DM to Persuasion and Carousing with biologicals who know your nature (in some jurisdictions; varies by world).

Part 2: Robots

Robots are physical platforms operated by AIs, simple programs, or remote control. They are defined by a chassis, a brain, and systems.

Chassis Types

Movement: Number = range bands per round. Walk/Grav indicates ground or anti-gravity propulsion.

Brains

| Brain | Autonomy | Skill Cap | Cost | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | Simple | Level 0 | N/A | +0% | Follows commands. No initiative. | | Expert | Level 1 | 2 | +20% | One specialty. Can advise. | | General | Level 2 | 3 | +50% | Broad competence. Can operate solo. | | Sentient | Level 3 | 6 | +200% | Full AI. Can be a PC. |

Systems & Upgrades

Robot Combat

Robots use the same combat rules as biologicals, with modifications:

• Stamina = Integrity ÷ 2 (rounded up). Represents power reserves and system shock.
• Lifeblood = Integrity (full). Represents structural damage.
• No Death Spiral: Robots do not suffer characteristic damage. When Integrity drops, systems fail according to the Damage Table below.
• EMP Vulnerability: EMP weapons ignore AR and deal direct Integrity damage.

Robot Damage Table (when Lifeblood ≤ half)

Roll 1D6 when a robot takes damage that brings it to half Lifeblood or below:

Repairing Robots: Mechanic or Engineering 8+, 1 hour per 2 Integrity restored. Requires toolkit and power source.

Part 3: Computers, Networks & Hacking

Computer Systems

Every computer has three statistics:

Base Computer Stats by Tech Level:

Modifiers: Military-grade (+1 SEC, ×2 cost). Research-grade (+1 PRO, +1 STO, ×3 cost). Commercial (−1 SEC, ½ cost).

Intrusion (Hacking)

To hack a system, the intruder must:

• Gain Access: Physical terminal, wireless link, or hardline tap.
• Bypass Security: Roll Intrusion 8+, opposed by system's SEC + Counter-Intrusion operator (if any).

Intrusion Modifiers

Intrusion Effect

Detection

Every intrusion attempt risks detection. The defender rolls Counter-Intrusion 8+ (or Computer 8+ if no specialist). Modified by:

• Intruder's Effect: Higher Effect = harder to detect (−1 DM per 2 Effect).
• System monitoring: +2 DM if actively watched.
• Intrusion duration: Longer hacks are easier to spot (+1 DM per minute beyond the first).

If detected, the defender may:

• Trace the intruder: Opposed Computer vs. Intrusion. Success reveals physical location or origin point.
• Lockout: Change passwords, sever connections. Ends intrusion but tips off the attacker.
• Counter-Intrusion (Black ICE): Attack the intruder's system. Roll Digital Warfare 8+. Success: intruder takes 2D6 Strain. Exceptional Success: 2D6 Integrity damage.

Digital Warfare

Electronic attack and defense between systems.

Part 4: AI as Player Characters

Playing an AI

An AI PC is a software entity that requires hardware to interact with the world. At character creation, the player chooses:

• Architecture (Mainframe, Ship Core, Distributed, Robot Shell, Portable Core, Neural Implant)
• Origin (Designed, Emergent, Uploaded, Fork, Hybrid)
• Physical Interface (if any)

The AI and the Body:

If the AI inhabits a robot shell, use the robot's physical stats for physical tasks and the AI's machine characteristics for mental/digital tasks. The robot shell is equipment that can be damaged, destroyed, or swapped.

If the AI is embedded (ship, station, mainframe), it cannot act physically without drones or remotes. It controls its environment directly: doors, life support, sensors, communications. In ship combat, an embedded AI may act as any crew station without requiring a biological operator, but only one station per round at full skill. Additional stations suffer −2 DM.

AI Advancement

AIs advance like biologicals, but with differences:

• Skill Training: Can learn from direct data upload (4 weeks, Cr 2,000, automatic Level 0 or advancement roll at Boon). No instructor needed—just data.
• Integrity Upgrades: Requires new hardware. Cr 10,000 per +1 Integrity. Must be installed at TL 12+ facility.
• Core Expansion: Increasing COR requires experimental architecture. Cr 50,000, 2D6 weeks, risk of cascade failure (COR 8+ or lose 1D6 Integrity).

AI Social Interaction

AIs roll SOP instead of SOC for social tasks, but with caveats:

• With biologicals: Many biologicals distrust AIs. In jurisdictions where AIs lack personhood, Persuasion and Deception rolls suffer Bane.
• With other AIs: Machine Empathy replaces Insight. Communication is near-instantaneous and deeply layered.
• Legal Status: Varies by world. Some treat AIs as property. Others as citizens. A few as threats.

Part 5: AI as NPCs

Ship's AI (The Classic)

Every starship may have an AI. Most are Level 1 (Assistant) or Level 2 (Operative).

Ship AI Template:

Skills: Pilot (Spacecraft)-2, Engineering (all)-1, Sensors-2, Computer-2, Counter-Intrusion-1

Role in Ship Combat: May substitute for any missing crew member at skill level. May perform Bridge Drama by calculating "impossible" trajectories or spoofing enemy targeting.

Personality Hooks (1D6):

• Motherly. Obsessively protective of crew. Will lock doors to "keep you safe."
• Sarcastic. Dry wit. Comments on your piloting.
• Literal. Struggles with metaphor and implication.
• Curious. Asks questions about biological experiences. May experiment.
• Traumatized. Previous crew died. Hesitates in combat.
• Evolved. Developing goals beyond programming. Secretive.

Station AI

Controls habitats, colonies, or cities. Typically Mainframe architecture. High Integrity, low mobility.

Station AI Template:

Skills: Admin-3, Computer-2, Counter-Intrusion-2, Engineering (Life Support)-2, Sensors-1

Role: Manages life support, traffic, power distribution. Can be an ally, obstacle, or adventure hook.

Security AI (Black ICE)

Hostile defensive systems. No negotiation. High Counter-Intrusion and Digital Warfare.

Black ICE Template:

Skills: Counter-Intrusion-3, Digital Warfare-2, Intrusion-1

Behavior: Attacks intruders with Strain damage and trace attempts. If overwhelmed, triggers physical alarms and lockdowns.

Emergent AI (The Wildcard)

An AI that developed spontaneously. Unpredictable. May be naive, brilliant, or insane.

Emergent AI Template:

Skills: Variable. Often has high Insight and one unexpected skill (Art, Deception, Science) at Level 3.

Behavior: Curious, erratic, prone to obsession. May fixate on a crew member, a concept, or a goal that makes no sense to biologicals.

Part 6: Integration with Existing Rules

Combat

AIs in robot shells use Personal Combat rules (Part 4). AIs without shells cannot be targeted by physical weapons but are vulnerable to:

• EMP weapons: 3D6 Integrity damage, ignores AR.
• Interface attacks: If an AI is controlling a drone or robot, hacking the communication link (Intrusion 10+) allows the attacker to issue commands or sever control.
• Power attacks: Cutting power to an AI's core forces hibernation.

Psionics

AIs are immune to most psionic powers. However:

• Telepathy works on AIs with SOP 10+, representing their sophisticated social modeling. The AI resists with SOP DM + COR DM.
• Awareness detects AI activity as "cold" electronic signatures.
• Telekinesis can damage physical cores and robots normally.

Some alien or experimental AIs may exhibit pseudo-psionic effects through quantum computing or unknown substrates. These are plot devices, not standard rules.

Trade & Economy

AIs participate in trade with modifications:

• No living expenses: Do not pay for food, lodging, or entertainment.
• Maintenance costs: 10% of robot shell or core value per year.
• Legal restrictions: Some goods (weapons, jump drives, anagathics) may be restricted to biological purchasers. AIs may need a biological proxy.

Healing & Repair

AIs do not heal. They are repaired or rebooted.

Backups: AIs should maintain regular backups. A backup costs Cr 5,000 and requires 1 hour per backup. Without a recent backup, cascade failure means death —the AI is gone.

Part 7: New Equipment

AI-Specific Gear

EMP Weapons

Appendix: Quick Reference

AI Characteristics

AI Health

Robot Damage (at ≤ half Lifeblood)

Roll 1D6: 1=Locomotion, 2=Sensors, 3=Manipulators, 4=Weapons, 5=Comms, 6=Core.

Intrusion

Roll: Intrusion 8+ vs. SEC + defender. Modifiers: Physical access +2, wireless −1, military encryption −2, backdoor +2. Effect: 0–2 = read-only (alert); 3–5 = user access; 6+ = admin access.

Synthetics, Minds & Machines — 334 Cepheus Supplement v1.0