Artificial Lifeforms in Dnd

[David]

Howdy folks,

So, something that's been on my mind the last couple of days is the mental capabilities of artificial beings in Dnd. Sorta weird, hunh? Well, just bare with me...

So, a mage has MANY options when it comes to creating servants.

At 1st level, the mage can find familiar, gaining a spirit bound into animal form that can minorly aid the wizard. Unlike a witch's familiar, a mage's does not continue to advance in power and is thus limited to the intellectual capacity of a smart dog or cat (think Lassie). Such a companion can learn, but only in the most rudementary ways and without the aid of the mage, anything but the most simple reasoning is probably beyond a familiar.

Starting at 5th lvl, the less ethical can animate dead to create a small army of skeletons and zombies. Both of these creations are listed as "non" for intelligence and therefore cannot learn, reason, and plan. In their descriptions, in fact, each is limited to a sentence or two of instructions.

Beginning at 7th lvl, a mage can make a homoculous. This creature is basically a dependent lifeform that is an extension of its creator. It basically knows what it's creator does, albeit in a rudamentary fashion. Homonculi are about as smart as a familiar if their link to their creator is broken.

Around 14th lvl, mages can create golems, which are basically as smart as undead. And like undead, golems have no ability to learn.

But, finally, we have sentient creations...

There are two major types of sentient that come to mind, simulacra (created by the spell) and magen (created alchemically). Both are intelligent, self-aware, capable of learning and forming plans, and therefore, theoretically at least, learning skills and/or gaining levels.

The crux is, both are soul-less creations bound to the wizard who created them. Each has a template of abilities (and simulacra even have memories and personality, albeit not complete) as well as self-awareness. But, given that each can be smarter than an average person, have memory, reason, intellect, and guile, why shouldn't they be allowed to advance? How are such beings any different than Data, Lore, the Doctor, or any other artificial lifeform?

What I would suggest is saying that they must earn any base levels or HDs they start off with. From there, they may advance, but ALL additional levels are "beyond their level limit" and therefore require double eeps. At some point, much like Victor, Frankenstein's creation (in the book, not the movie), such beings will "advance" sufficiently so that they throw off the "yoke" of their master and quite probably "go rogue" (depending on how they were treated). Thus, advancement in this fashion is NOT necesarily a good thing for the creator of the being! =8-O

Thoughts?

[aaronthecow]

I think it sounds good, but what about sentiant familiar's from Improve Familiar IV and silmilar spells used to make your familiar in to awsomness and beond, do they have the ability to gain hit dice too? My coshie has 12 int, higher than the average human and more than Bush who gains HD from eeps. Based on your analisis, Celeen should be able to advance too.

[David]

Since there is a mental link, it would be hard for your familiar, Celeem, to "break free" of Saanau's control. But really, his intelligence is a reflection of Saanau's -- independent now, but a reflection. I would be willing to allow for a VERY difficult series of adventures for him to begin earning eeps.

Keep in mind, having artificial life forms gain levels is a BAD THING for the creator, because it means they can ultimately rebel! Think Mary Shelly's Frankenstein or Lore from Star Trek!

[Jenn G]

What do you think of also requiring some kind of quest to gain a separate soul once they are at the point they can begin advancing? It seems like that is usually a common goal for created entities. I am thinking of Pinoccio, Data's quest for human emotion/understanding etc. That way too, if they are aware but choose to stay with their creator they can, or if they fail their quest they can remain linked? Just thinking out loud here...

[Jeff]

I agree with Jenn, though I believe that there should also be a sense of a spiritual path, e.g., they do a holy quest and are granted a soul by the gods. The only problem I could see with this is that these creatures would not necessarily be accepted by the gods, since they are unnatural.

[David]

I agree with both Jenn and Jeff -- artificial beings ALLOWED to pursue a spiritual path could become full-fledged, soul-bearing beings after some great quest. Prior to that, however, they are nothing more than very complex magical entities that will cease to exist when slain. The question is whether their creator would allow a creation to go on a quest! In most cases, the answer is no, so first the creation must rebel, escape, survive, and THEN seek enlightenment.

Also, I was chatting with Andy and I think I agree with him -- since simulara lack souls, they should not be allowed to cast higher level divine spells. Sure, those powered by faith should work, but since they have less of a soul or spirit than an animal, all others should simply fail. That renders simulacra of clerics and druids as less useful than those of other classes, which I think I like.