Well, Remote Presence could be a pseudo-AI or a human, but since I learned that the nomads use dolphins and orcas as pilots, I cannot get rid of the idea of them piloting their REMs as well, at least the Meteors or Sputniks... Spoiler: Remote Presence Remote Presence technology is a characteristic trait of unmanned TAGs and Remotes. Remotes are controlled by a pseudo-AI and a suite of expert programs that govern their combat behavior with precision and fearless logic. TAGs, on the other hand, benefit from the autonomy of a human pilot, but Remote Presence technology allows these pilots, miles away from the battlefield, to focus on performance instead of safety. Spoiler: Neo-Cetaceans (RPG) Taking advantage of their natural resilience to pressure and high gravity, as well as their innate comprehension of three-dimensional space, Nomads utilise dolphins, porpoises, and orca uplifted in the labs of Praxis to pilot their shuttles and in-system vessels. Some use the pejorative term "blowholes” to refer to these pilots, but never within earshot: They have long memories and can withstand far more G-forces than humans. Your next trip could be very uncomfortable. Maybe now you too start to wonder all day...
I've always thought about it like the Virtual Intelligences in the Mass Effect universe. Complex logic algorithms, possibly even a pre programmed "personality". But not sentient. I had been hoping the Zondnautica would have been dolphins on bikes, but alas...
LAIs + Hackers to provide orders and guidance (up to an including full VR remote control). It's described in the rules for REMs in the RPG.
Not the only one among Nomads... So uplifted dolphins qualify! Remember Jones from Johnny Mnemonic...?
Maybe not just dolphins. I can totally see CrazyKoalas piloted by uplifted dogs (They just want to be friends! No one told them their equipment explodes!) Of course no mention of that in any of the source material, but it is totally now a part of my own head-canon.
Well, a cyberpunk movie from the mid-80s... What do you expect? I still like it, as there are still not to many true cyberpunk movies out there. "I want room service!"
I love imagining our Remotes like the Tachikomas from GITS:SAC. They are adorable and it would totally fit Nomads.
I recommend Warren Ellis 'Normal'. Bird sized drones with a dive into target terminal manouevre is probably the initial design.
Precisely. This is how I view my REMs. I like to think that, narratively, they are all custom, vaguely illegal AI, kinda like Pi-Well. They border on the edge of true AI, and are operated via tactical commands via my Interventor LT, the Specula Killa. Kill this, guard that, clear this building, get me out of here, etc. much like Tachikomas.
In the ecumenical ultrademocracy of the #dominion module all the remotes are piloted by uplifted animals - generally dogs, skunks, or raccoons. It's complicated.
I prefer to pirate AIs driving popular Mayanet children's cartoons and retrain them into ultra-lethal killing machines. "Hey kids, let's all sing along to the sound of Mr. Fuzzawuzzle's heavy shotgun! Free hugs for all our friends!"
