More about Sensors, More questions! Options

[GrinderTheTroll]

Hi again all,

I asked some general questions a little while back about Drones, Sensors and Perception and that had some good replies but now I am back with a few more questions!

SR4.325 shows different "Sensor Packages" that reference Sizes(Capacity, Signal) : RFID (1,0); Micro(1,2); Handheld/Minidrone(3,3); Mounted/Small Drone(5,4); Large Drone(8,4) and Vehicle(12,5).

Does this mean my Microdrone can only have 1 type of sensor since the Sensor Package only has capacity of 1? So per the list I could have any except the Laser Mic? Could I have more "Sensor Packages" than just 1 or does the vehicle/drone size just allow "1 package per size catergory"? Given the very small size of RFID, could I include RFID(1, 0) as part of my Vehicle/Drone or would that take up my Sensor Package space?

So would the scenario be something like: an object comes into range of my Drone with a Cyberware Scanner 5 (Signal 2=100m). I roll a Sensor + Clearsight (6 for this example) and -3 dice pool per the Signature table. I manage to get 2-hits so I know there is a metahuman 100m out. Now since my Cyberware Scanner only has a max distance of 15m, I would have to wait until the metahuman gets in range to run the Cyberware scan?

Same scenario with a Low-light, Thermographic Camera instead would allow for a Perception Test at 100m with appropriate modifiers per SR4.117? If successful, it would yield more detail than just "a metahuman"?

Just seems there are 2 ranges to consider: Sensor Package range and Sensor Function range, as well as 2 Tests to make: a Sensor Test and a Sensor Function Test (per Sensor Type).

Confusing as it may be, the vehicle Sensor attribute is only used for Sensor and other "Perception" Tests, it has nothing to do with how many sensors you can have/use.

Is this the right line of thinking on this? Am I missing something?

Thanks,

~GTT

[WhiskeyMac]

The sensor on the drone stats doesn't refer to the sensor packages at all. On pg. 159 of the BBB it states that the sensor stat is like Intuition for drones. The sensor packages size are equivalent size ranks to gauge how big the sensor array would be. It states that it can be added on so the sensor would just add another feature for the drone to use. The Sensor stat is Intuition and used for perception tests and all other tests intuition is used in.

[GrinderTheTroll]

[Samaels Ghost]

The range at which a sensor (as in cyberware scanner) can function is determined by how big it's package is. Your microdrone sensors would have a range equivalent of Signal 2 (100m).

As for separate Sensor Test and Sensor Function Tests.... It should work like Sensor Rating+Clearsight, but I'm not sure that it does. If it is using a sensor other than the one that it comes with (which I assume is the equivalent of radar) than I'd say your Cyberware scanner example would be Cyber Scanner 5 + Clearsight test made at a maximum range of 100m.

Sorry if that's confusing :P

[The Jopp]

[The Jopp]

I wonder how much drones can carry? I mean, If I add a Sensor tag like some bumper sticker on my Microskimmer and the drone has it subscribed it adds to the drones sensor right – and a sensor tag cant weight…anything basically.

[GrinderTheTroll]

[Mr. Unpronouncea...]

I really hope they include a way to increase a vehicle's sensor rating in the relevant splatbook...

None of the vehicles or drones listed have more than a rating of 3...even with clearsight you're averaging 1 or 2 successes max - 2 successes is just enough to notice a pedestrian (p.117). God forbid there are vision modifiers. Apparently drones should be ramming people left and right.

[lorechaser]

[DireRadiant]

Use the Sensor Packages table on page 325 to determine the total capacity and signal for your drone.

Example: P 342 lists a Lockheed Optic X (Small), looking at the Sensor Package table on p 325 shows a small drone has Capacity 5 and signal 4.

Use the Sensor Functions table on p 325 to determine what type of sensors are installed.

e.g. a Small drone can carry, Atmosphere sensor (1), Camera (1) , Cyberware scanner (1) , Directional Microphne (1), and a geiger counter (1) to use up 5 capacity.

Each Sensor Function can be further enhanced.

e.g. The Camera can take low light options for example.

Using Sensors p 239

"When observing through a drone, a rigger
rolls Sensor (rather than Intuition) +
Perception. Drones operating on their own
simply roll Sensor + Clearsight autosoft (or
just Sensor if they don’t have the autosoft )."

E.g. This is where you use the Drone's sensor attribute, to determine how many dice you roll, in this example the lockheed has sensor 2.

Now for the tricky part. What the heck is the type of snsensorshat you are using when you do not have a sensor package installed?

Personally I would just say it's some kind of cheap video/ ultrasound/sonar setup that's enough for a Pilot program to avoid running into things, and maybe figure out barely what it's seeing. You don't see the actual sensor input but you get a report of what the drone thinks it's seeing.

Does this help?

[GrinderTheTroll]

[Zen Shooter01]

That drone ramming thing has always been a problem. In 3rd, many drones rolled 1 or 2D6 vs. TN 6 to even detect a metahuman. The failure rate was ludicrous, and it's ludicrous now.

My interpretation is that drones automatically detect things around them, but that a sensor test is necessary to determine any details. So the metahuman is automatically detected, but a sensor test is necessary to tell if it's this particular metahuman or that one.

[GrinderTheTroll]

[DireRadiant]

[DireRadiant]

[GrinderTheTroll]

[DireRadiant]

Given "Sensors are designed to detect
the “signature” (emissions,
composition, sound, etc) of other
vehicles"

I think it's up to you to decide if normal vision/auditory mods are appropriate or not. In general I would ignore them most of the time for vehciel and sensor tests. Unless there is a specific attempt to mask the signature in which case I might allow parital to complete modifiers.

[GrinderTheTroll]

[Jaid]