 September 5, 2016 - 4:30am | I am going with type of robot since some robots like the old Gamma World cargo bots are designed to carry large loads while a Medical robot would not need to carry alot of extra items. Form and Function should be the guide. While this does go against the usually simple rules of SF, we would not be here if we liked simple. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
 September 5, 2016 - 10:48am | I am thinking it woudl be a combination of robot type, structure points and movement type. It seems that jetcopters and aircars can't carry as much cargo as other vehicles (though there is the air transport from Zebs). So, unless the robot is a heavy-lifter air trnasport, it's movement rate could be impeded when it is carrying a load above its structure points. While I sympathize with Shadow Shack's idea that the carrying capacity should be about 1/2 of its stamina points, before a robot is considered encumbered (see the discussion "Robot Carrying Capacity" in the forums), machines tend to be stronger than humans and animals. Unless the robot is designed to carry extra weight, I would say it gets encumbered after it reaches its Stamina points in kilograms... but that might be the stas for a standard or standard reinforced robot. The "tin can" type might be encoumbered when reaching half-STA. A heavy-duty robot might be able to carry four or five times its STA (in kilograms). But, heavy-duty bot that is a cargo carrier, such as rattraveller mentioned, woudl be able to carry much, much more. Perhaps a robot with wheels or tracks could carry more than a robot with legs? I will come up with a proposed chart once we get some more feedback. Joe Cabadas |
 September 6, 2016 - 3:18pm | To a certain extent SF robots are plug and play: choose a body, choose mode of movement, install programs and extra equipment like anti shock implant, toxyrad gauge, or a weapon. PCs build their own but the game incorporates the table that gives prices by level and function: warbot vs security bot So I suppose a table for amount of wt by function then modifiers for form options: body style and movement modes. I'd then be in favor of one simple rule of when wt exceeded then 1/2 movement or double energy consumption to move. When wt limit is doubled then both 1/2 movement and double SEU expenditure to move. BTW: Star Questions from Dragon mag set SEU consumption for a robot to move at 1 SEU/kilometer. Though I feel like a hvy duty robot body should cost more than 1 SEU to move 1 km I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
September 6, 2016 - 3:37pm | BTW: Star Questions from Dragon mag set SEU consumption for a robot to move at 1 SEU/kilometer. Though I feel like a hvy duty robot body should cost more than 1 SEU to move 1 km It's similar to vehicles. They all have a range of 1,000 km, but the parabattery size is different. I just assume that the SF robots normally have a 1,000 km range, but the energy consumption levels would be different depending upon the size. That assumption doesn't answer the carrying capacity question. Hopefully I can come up with a simple rule(s) for you. Joe Cabadas |
 September 6, 2016 - 6:38pm | As I mentioned in the thread discussing this topic, I always house ruled carrying capacity at the robot's STA ( with encumbrance rules setting in at over half STA, meaning half movement after half STA in kilograms). This also loosely covers "robot type" as the larger heavy duty/warbot/cybot frames with STA:500 are capable of carrying considerably more than their standard body counterparts. Consequently, the smaller "cockroach" bots etc from Beyond the Frontier series with their STA:60 carried considerably less. |
 December 11, 2016 - 12:03am | SFAD pages 41 and 46-47 cover the basics for robots: Bodies and Limbs are Standard, Heavy Duty, or Anthropomorphic Movement is wheels, tracks, or legs. The 8 standard types of robots are composed of combinations of these. ShadowShack's idea of using the robot purchased Stamina as carrying capacity seems to work since character Strength/Stamina are paired at character creation. That makes the robot carrying capacity based on type of robot, really. But I would also say that heavy duty arms on a standard and anthro body would be limited to the standard or anthro carry capacity. |
December 11, 2016 - 8:29am | But I would also say that heavy duty arms on a standard and anthro body would be limited to the standard or anthro carry capacity. I believe HD arms require a HD body. If they don't that's a rule I've always gone by anyways... |
