600Y for +6 to all social skill tests olol. Empathy software is about 4500 for +6 to all social skill tests olol and is similarly often banned.

At least that requires a 6 commlink. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

You just use the Optimization program option. Empathy Software 6 with Optimization 3 is IIRC only 3300. A response/system 3 commlink you can probably get for ~1200.

Yea, for just twice the cost of an emotitoy too.

@ the THUGS! discussion though: it all boils down to tactics. Try playing yourself some Warhammer 40,000 sometime - you'll get better at tactics. Or Go. Chess is good for beginners.

My good friend Ragewind nearly TPK'd a group of veteran players who were well versed in min/maxing characters with I think it was 5 or 7 F4 spirits because of tactics and maneuverability. Oh, and I helped build the spirits.

There's actually two separate issues people complain about:

1) They're way too cheap for the massive dice pool boost.

and

2) They're silly. The idea of serious runners going to a meet with a Johnson and pulling out Buddy the Bear just rubs some people the wrong way.

People who have issue 1 are likely to ban or modify Empathy software entirely. People with issue 2 are more likely to just ban Emotitoys and leave Empathy software alone.




-k

Yeah. We ban Emotitoys completly, and use the Empathy Software as is.

I have around 15K points combined of 40K armies, not counting unopened boxes, but around 10K of them are Black Templars, so that 'tactic' thing of yours is a choice of 'we shoot first, then stab' or 'we stab first, then shoot'? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
But that's precicely the point why I need a sanity check about the fight. I feel that the opposition is elite and the other party is fresh from chargen, doesn't has decent equipment or a plan... and they still win. Must be something we forget to take into account (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Understood about emotitoys. Missed the part that Empathy software adds to all Social rolls, not just Judge Intent.

Here's the Grunt Survival Guide; maybe it'll help. It starts slowly but gets better.

Sweet! Thanks!
Is there anything that wasn't discussed on Dumpshock? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

No. But we redo everything at least a hundred times just to be sure, and for each wave of new players. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Ryumyo and Lung slash fiction. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

That's why I started bookmarking things.

I appreciate the object lesson in why forums suck for reference, and why people should use wikis. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Apparently in Street Legends they set stage for Lowfyr/Ghostwalker/Lung...

Optimization works on Program Types: Common, Hacking, Autosoft, Simsense (Unwired 115)
Empathy is Sensor Software. (Arsenal 60)

Huh, I never noticed that. OK, looks like it's a bit more expensive for your +5 to all social skills, and you have to wait until after chargen to get your +6.

Not if you're an AI. It's only like a High Lifestyle for a R6 node.

Really? Book (I assume "Street Legends" is the title) and page?

It was in Lofwyr's description, p. 134. The text mentions that out of all Greats, Lofwyr is trying to ally himself with Ghostwalker and Lung

Ah

If Spirit possesses a vessel, say, inanimate, can it use his powers?
Found out myself (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Is there a Karma cost to acquiring Contacts in game, or it's just plain roleplaying?

Just plain roleplaying. Though some DMs may let you spend some karma to find a contact from your past that you let lapse or something like that.

A good point, which means you can't simply run the software on a 'link - you need the sensors to feed data to the software: at least a thermal camera, microphone (with sound filters), possibly a moisture sensor, and whatever other sensors the DM says is necessary (as a benchmark, lets say you would have to spend the same amount on sensors as you would on the equivalent level toy). If you don't have enough sensors, the effectiveness of the software is limited.

On the other hand, so the runners face does turn up to meet a johnson with Teddy Ruxspin sat on his shoulder...
Options:
The johnson says "get lost you clown"
The johnson says "please deactivate your toy"
The johnson cuts his starting offer in half
The johnson also has an r6 toy on his shoulder
The johnsons hacker interferes with your toy, maybe giving you a penalty on your negotiation*


*how many faces out there have actually asked the hacker to load up the toy with IC and a decent firewall??

Another thing, why would anyone think an Emotitoy would be useful in negotiations with a spirit? The toy is designed to read human physiological responses none of which are displayed be a materialised spirit (unless maybe it has the Realistic power). IMO. YMMV. Blah.

This is very true, and can translate to other species as well. If you are talking to a Wolf shifter with his mouth open and toungue hanging out, he's hot, and panting to relieve some heat (as wolves and other canines do); for a human, maybe they are making fun of you, or just have dry lips. If a Naga opens it's mouth at you in the same way, they are threatening you.