Von Neumann machines or probes

[Nevian0225]

Good Morning All.
Has there been any discussion over finding Von Neumann probes or machines in any thread? I did a search on Neumann and found nothing.
I realize that as a player tool this might be a complicated programming issue but I wondered if there's a possibility of having Von Neumann probes from an ancient race showing up in the game maybe harvesting resources or even mining planets or belts?

Regards,
Nevian0225

 

[MBaldelli]

Self replicating Equipment?

I had to Google this to figure out what you're talking about, and upon discovery I can't say I've seen anything of this sort being incorporated into the game any time in the near future.

If you want, Warframe has something of the sort in the form of Sentients. And they're not pretty either.

 

[Nevian0225]

You could also read " We are Legion, We are Bob " by Dennis Taylor.
However, the idea is fairly old in Sci-fi, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-replicating_spacecraft#Von_Neumann_probes

Thought it might be an interesting idea to entertain and if Development chimes in with a " Yea/nay/considering '' that'd be worthwhile discussion.

I have heard that we are just 'there' technology wise on being able to build our own Von Neumann probe variations to pre build bases on the moon and Mars, perhaps even Ceres and other asteroids. Further, if you read more than I do you might have seen articles on the possibility of comet capture to be used to soft land 'ice' for a moon base consumables, as water is a critical factor for any settlement in space.

Regards,
Nevian

Self replicating Equipment?

I had to Google this to figure out what you're talking about, and upon discovery I can't say I've seen anything of this sort being incorporated into the game any time in the near future.

If you want, Warframe has something of the sort in the form of Sentients. And they're not pretty either.

 

[MBaldelli]

You could also read " We are Legion, We are Bob " by Dennis Taylor.
However, the idea is fairly old in Sci-fi, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-replicating_spacecraft#Von_Neumann_probes

Thought it might be an interesting idea to entertain and if Development chimes in with a " Yea/nay/considering '' that'd be worthwhile discussion.

I have heard that we are just 'there' technology wise on being able to build our own Von Neumann probe variations to pre build bases on the moon and Mars, perhaps even Ceres and other asteroids. Further, if you read more than I do you might have seen articles on the possibility of comet capture to be used to soft land 'ice' for a moon base consumables, as water is a critical factor for any settlement in space.

Regards,
Nevian

Actually I remember hearing about them under a different name. Certainly not their original name though. I liked how they've often been introduced into sci-fi stories, and while it would be cool to see something like that in this game, I don't think it would actually be incorporated until well after game balancing has actually been introduced. As it stands there's way to much of the wrong sort of grind in place that such an introduction might be construed as Over-powered.

Still it's one of those sort of ideas to be introduced at a later time.

 

[space voyager]

If Thargoids are Guardians' AI, than they already are a kind of biological Von Neumann's machines. Then again, I'd be happy to find more machine-like enemies, preferably ones that we'd need to partner up with the Thargoids to fight them.

 

[MBaldelli]

If Thargoids are Guardians' AI, than they already are a kind of biological Von Neumann's machines. Then again, I'd be happy to find more machine-like enemies, preferably ones that we'd need to partner up with the Thargoids to fight them.

Spoilers? Or theories?

If the latter, that's definitely going to put an interesting spin on things. If the former, well... Some people don't like them. I'm not one of them given that I still enjoy a game or movie even when I know the ending; because the journey to the end is more important than the surprise at the end.

 

[Nevian0225]

Spoilers? Or theories?

If the latter, that's definitely going to put an interesting spin on things. If the former, well... Some people don't like them. I'm not one of them given that I still enjoy a game or movie even when I know the ending; because the journey to the end is more important than the surprise at the end.

Well now.. that's a thoughtful spin. I was wondering after the ED Codex is implemented would there be something like one or more of the major powers wanting a player to deliver a 'package' to a system with abundant minerals. Perhaps to drop it off in an asteroid field and after a few weeks come back to check on it.
There might be some play on 'go destroy this automated mining platform' from one major power wanting to undercut another.

Could be an interesting bit of mission play for both deep space exploration and power play influence?

Probably very complicated to develope.

Regards,
Nevian0225

 

[MBaldelli]

Well now.. that's a thoughtful spin. I was wondering after the ED Codex is implemented would there be something like one or more of the major powers wanting a player to deliver a 'package' to a system with abundant minerals. Perhaps to drop it off in an asteroid field and after a few weeks come back to check on it.

Another game I play (no surprise which) has something of the sort for material collection on planets for the foundry. I fear such an implemented idea here in ED would give significantly less materials after collection especially when you consider that not everyone's flying a miner-'conda or Type 9 for massive amounts of materials.

Could be an interesting bit of mission play for both deep space exploration and power play influence?

I fear the devs would need to increase storage space for Data and untradeable meterials long before this could be implemented. Giving this before adding the story will increase player rage.

 

[Nevian0225]

Another game I play (no surprise which) has something of the sort for material collection on planets for the foundry. I fear such an implemented idea here in ED would give significantly less materials after collection especially when you consider that not everyone's flying a miner-'conda or Type 9 for massive amounts of materials.



I fear the devs would need to increase storage space for Data and untradeable meterials long before this could be implemented. Giving this before adding the story will increase player rage.

Yes, I can see it to be a problematic option if implimented. Player rage is not something I often consider.

Getting back to the idea that the Thargoids are Guardian AI's... not really sure I can address that other than 'alien'. Those videos of the Thargoid ships refueling/repairing from planet based crystal structures would lend weight toward automated fueling/maintenance stations.

 

[MBaldelli]

Yes, I can see it to be a problematic option if implimented. Player rage is not something I often consider.

Stick around. You'll be able to figure it out quickly enough. Two months here I've learned all the triggers to drag people out of the woodwork.

Getting back to the idea that the Thargoids are Guardian AI's... not really sure I can address that other than 'alien'. Those videos of the Thargoid ships refueling/repairing from planet based crystal structures would lend weight toward automated fueling/maintenance stations.

Yes and no. Having had experience with Living Ships through my readings in my adolescence to shows like TNG ("Tin Man"), Babylon 5 (Vorlon ships), Farscape ("Moya") in my adulthood, there's a collection of examples depending on how you look at it....

Thinking about it -- Moya's a good example of something living and being silicon based, which is what the Thargoid ships might be comprised of. Especially when you consider that there seems to be a pilot's cockpit on the ships that we've seen so far in the Pleiades Sector. Especially given that Moya needed a crew in order to have "purpose".

I admit it's an interesting whimsy to think that the Thargoids might be some sort of AI off-shoot from the Guardians. But the more I think about it, the less I'm liking it as I'm going down the road Collectors and Collectors ships from the Mass Effect Universe; leaving them less alien and more malevolent. It might be simply my over-active imagination as a writer and avid sci-fi reader/gamer taking dark turns.

 

[Nevian0225]

Stick around. You'll be able to figure it out quickly enough. Two months here I've learned all the triggers to drag people out of the woodwork.



Yes and no. Having had experience with Living Ships through my readings in my adolescence to shows like TNG ("Tin Man"), Babylon 5 (Vorlon ships), Farscape ("Moya") in my adulthood, there's a collection of examples depending on how you look at it....

Thinking about it -- Moya's a good example of something living and being silicon based, which is what the Thargoid ships might be comprised of. Especially when you consider that there seems to be a pilot's cockpit on the ships that we've seen so far in the Pleiades Sector. Especially given that Moya needed a crew in order to have "purpose".

I admit it's an interesting whimsy to think that the Thargoids might be some sort of AI off-shoot from the Guardians. But the more I think about it, the less I'm liking it as I'm going down the road Collectors and Collectors ships from the Mass Effect Universe; leaving them less alien and more malevolent. It might be simply my over-active imagination as a writer and avid sci-fi reader/gamer taking dark turns.

I tend to agree with wanting to avoid over used tropes ( long time science fiction fan here ). As a frustrated writer I think I have absorbed too many and try to balance those off with what I know of hard science.
My musings were based on the game allowing 'synthesis' of materials for usable items; SRV repairs, Ship repairs, chaff, heat sinks, limpets. This hints a not much of a reach, in my opinion, toward a reflection of Von Neumann hardware.. Perhaps lacking only the software to do so altho that can be a game conceit. I was daydreaming about if you drop this "package'' off at a certain point in a few weeks/months time it will have build itself into a surface/asteroid station.

Other considerations, in game, there was a bonus mission where players had to deliver materials to build a new station. This whole idea of Von Neumanns' may have been addressed in ED development and future station builds will come at just enough of a rate to keep the player interest up.

 

[space voyager]

BTW, this AI idea is not mine, it has been rolling around since the discovery of Guardians' ruins and has resurfaced after it was seen how much Thargoids hate everything Guardians related. I don't recall whether FD actually confirmed it or not.

 

[CMDR Yates]

Yeah, I suggested these in another thread somewhere. Functioning probes could be a rare-ish encounter way out in the black, with some light combat, and valuable exploration data as a reward. Not a huge threat, just something to break up the space madness.

Crashed ones could also replace all those "nav beacons" you find littering planets hundreds of light years from civilisation, as a more immersive, lore-appropriate form of salvage. They don't even need to be alien, they could be self-replicating AIs we sent out to explore the galaxy before the AI ban, and now there's a bounty on any you find.

I don't think it would take much to implement, assuming they're just an NPC and/or wreckage type. I think it would be a cool way to add a little more life to the galaxy. Even just the possibility of bumping into something like this while out in the black would make exploring a lot more exciting.

 

[Nevian0225]

Yeah, I suggested these in another thread somewhere. Functioning probes could be a rare-ish encounter way out in the black, with some light combat, and valuable exploration data as a reward. Not a huge threat, just something to break up the space madness.

Crashed ones could also replace all those "nav beacons" you find littering planets hundreds of light years from civilisation, as a more immersive, lore-appropriate form of salvage. They don't even need to be alien, they could be self-replicating AIs we sent out to explore the galaxy before the AI ban, and now there's a bounty on any you find.

I don't think it would take much to implement, assuming they're just an NPC and/or wreckage type. I think it would be a cool way to add a little more life to the galaxy. Even just the possibility of bumping into something like this while out in the black would make exploring a lot more exciting.

I'm taking the scenic route to Colonia and have yet to find any nav beacons in unexplored system.. operative word "yet".

I have found USS with navigation packages in debris fields, landed for a few mining runs here and there and no anomalous readings on flyovers on the way down ... yet.

My inner science fiction fan hopes to find an orbital ring, mega structure or something amazing but that's going to be a lot of work.

Was discussing with a friend the other day about the possibility of finding an orbital ring or 'Halo'. Considering how that'd draw pilots .. and the hard work it'd be to create a landing zone for further adventuring in a far far different environment, how that'd be a server handoff all on it's own. This would also be a massive update, I cannot imagine the coding required.