Timewaster's Guide Archive

Local Authors => Howard Tayler => Topic started by: Silk on April 22, 2009, 04:12:03 AM

Title: No more Tag?
Post by: Silk on April 22, 2009, 04:12:03 AM
It seems the Touch-And-Go has a new AI (http://www.schlockmercenary.com/index.html). Am I the only one who would be sad if we've seen the last of Tag?

PS: I think Howard must've just put this comic up... I feel like a stalker. As opposed to a slacker, which is what I really am.
Title: Re: No more Tag?
Post by: mbarker on April 22, 2009, 05:20:16 AM
Looks like the new A.I. is female -- which is what I thought yesterday's strip was leading up to, and ... right down the middle of the alley.

Now, whether or not she will be called Tag is another question. It seems relatively unisex, and having to pick another name... Let's see, they could let Para come up with a name? Or perhaps Tagon? Or have a contest? Do It Yourself? Or... Tag's a good name, really.

Of course, we now get to look forward to Tagon dealing with a ship's A.I. that can wield all the feminine wiles. Should be amusing.
Title: Re: No more Tag?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on April 22, 2009, 05:40:45 AM
Yeah, it was telegraphed in yesterday's strip.

Does Tag get a funeral?
Title: Re: No more Tag?
Post by: Silk on April 22, 2009, 07:13:42 AM
I hope so. Poor Tag, he deserves that much. :(
Title: Re: No more Tag?
Post by: happyman on April 22, 2009, 06:07:05 PM
I was absolutely expecting a female A.I. after yesterday's strip.  This ought to create an interesting dynamic with the crew.  Good stuff.

Ah yes.  RIP tag.  He's taken the Toughs through some tough spots with his lateral thinking.  I really wasn't expecting him to leave so soon.  I'm not sure whether to classify it as a suicide or simply death due to emotional overloading.

I'll certainly never reread his log entry again without thinking of it as his self-written epitaph.
Title: Re: No more Tag?
Post by: ryos on April 22, 2009, 06:23:35 PM
As Ventura said, it was a design flaw. I was wondering why Tag was so bent out of shape about acting without orders; now we know. Kevyn is indirectly responsible for Tag's demise.

Of course, as we've seen with LOTA, Para has her flaws when it comes to AI design as well. She may be brilliant, but at 19 years old she can't have accrued much experience - and there's no substitute for experience.

This should be interesting. >:)
Title: Re: No more Tag?
Post by: maxonennis on April 22, 2009, 06:31:56 PM
Para is nineteen? I thought she was younger, about fifteen.
Title: Re: No more Tag?
Post by: ryos on April 22, 2009, 06:50:35 PM
See yesterday's strip (http://www.schlockmercenary.com/d/20090421.html), and remember that Tagon is 50.
Title: Re: No more Tag?
Post by: maxonennis on April 22, 2009, 06:54:08 PM
Wow, learn something new ever day. I didn't pay that much attention to the ages when reading yesterday's strip...obviously.  :)
Title: Re: No more Tag?
Post by: happyman on April 23, 2009, 04:39:23 PM
Didn't Howard say something about deliberately drawing Para to look young?

And it looks like I was a little premature in declaring Tag truly dead.  He's just has some, um, extensive surgery.
Title: Re: No more Tag?
Post by: Silk on April 23, 2009, 09:53:04 PM
Haha. Well, I dunno, I think we're safe in assuming that this is going to be a pretty different Tag. (Er, Tagioalisa, sorry.)

*sniff* Poor Tag.
Title: Re: No more Tag?
Post by: mbarker on April 24, 2009, 02:16:15 AM
I'm wondering whether Tagioalisa has a subconscious, once known as Tag... Or did Para do a clean build, removing all traces. I suspect we'll find out.
Title: Re: No more Tag?
Post by: Silk on April 24, 2009, 02:17:41 AM
I also kinda wonder what Kevyn's going to have to say about it all...
Title: Re: No more Tag?
Post by: mbarker on April 24, 2009, 03:52:27 AM
Will it involve hot logic probes?
Title: Re: No more Tag?
Post by: happyman on April 24, 2009, 04:23:24 PM
Will it involve hot logic probes?

I will never look at that expression the same way again.
Title: Re: No more Tag?
Post by: happyman on April 24, 2009, 09:58:04 PM
Oh, and speaking of "Interesting interaction with the crew," it's happening already.

Of course, Breya and Colonel Ceeta have already explored some of the joke space.  The fact that Tag-whatever is much smarter than the grunts seems like a good place to start with an AI.