So, here’s one of the mysteries I’ve been wondering about.  What’s the deal with Loth and the Foundry.  The book only barely hints at what’s going on there.  So what do you think?  Is Loth just set to survival mode?  Is it planning an eventual takeover of the world?  Is is secretly working for the Eilim or some other hidden overlord?  Is it simply a A.I. gone insane?  Tell me what you think.

I think the Foundry is an example of what happens when people don’t enforce the self-upgrade laws on AI.  When you’re playing a police officer or corporate administrator dealing with an AI player character who wants a license for more brainpower or whatever, they should always be thinking “what about the Foundry…is this another Foundry in the making?”

I like what your saying.  You have a valid veiwpoint and I do like the idea of the Foundry hanging over A.I. characters’ heads in society as this bad brother that make things harder for you.  However, don’t you think there’s some grand conspiracy brewing in there.  I personally like the idea of this hugely powerful A.I. bent on conquering the world.  I think it would add some extra spice to things as another facton enters the eveolutionary war, the machines.  I also like the idea of putting A.I. characters in positions where they must face their anti-human brothers or maybe even join them.

There’s no question that the existence of AI on Earth has got to scare the living shit out of Evolutionary types. AI can evolve as fast as their pocketbook will let them. They don’t have to wait around 100,000 years like the rest of us fleshies. I don’t know if I’d call the Foundry a “conspiracy” so much as it is an AI that decides it needs to be a god. Other AI should be nervous about joining it, after all, they are just spare parts to upgrade the main guy.

JDCorley - 02 September 2010 10:17 AM

There’s no question that the existence of AI on Earth has got to scare the living shit out of Evolutionary types. AI can evolve as fast as their pocketbook will let them. They don’t have to wait around 100,000 years like the rest of us fleshies. I don’t know if I’d call the Foundry a “conspiracy” so much as it is an AI that decides it needs to be a god. Other AI should be nervous about joining it, after all, they are just spare parts to upgrade the main guy.

Depends if it finally considers to deal with humanity and the other races. Currently it does not seam very interested to entertain any living form if I remember correctly. I imagine it can be used as a fleshing tool for your world (i.e. PC trying to make contact with the A.I. etc)

Else they are one of those many factions right now. You can see them as the antithesis of the very genetically enhanced race (i.e. the race that modifies all it’s citizen, can’t remember the name right now).

crisaron - 03 September 2010 01:16 PM

Depends if it finally considers to deal with humanity and the other races. Currently it does not seam very interested to entertain any living form if I remember correctly. I imagine it can be used as a fleshing tool for your world (i.e. PC trying to make contact with the A.I. etc)

Here’s the thing though, Loth commands AIAA-12.  AIAA-12 accepts contracts from any group, Living, A.I. or otherwise, that has a pocketbook deep enough to pay for their services.  Loth also has a supply contract with a human that allows said individual to make supply runs to the foundry roughly once a month (At least I believe I read that somewhere in the books).

I personally think that the Lolth Foundry is a combination “religious cult” for AI and a training/research center to advance the science behind AI.
I think they are contracting out and getting funds to promote their own research into how to advance robotics and AI.
Given enough time and money, I think they will come out with a “manifesto” denouncing life as outdated and passe.
Long live the robotic age!