Drones question, Drones Options

[Ragna]

Heya!

Do i buy an os and link to my drone, or do i buy the programs seperatly?
Pilot, Firewall, System and Response?

[Tarko]

Why buy the same progs again when you can hack them; P.228 'Source code and piracy'

[Ragna]

But can this be done at character creation? I havent read sr4 that good, opened it a few days ago.

[Jaid]

depends on your GM, i suppose.

[Tarko]

well... unless your char havent been alive before its first run, I'm pretty sure he had time, yes.


But it IS a GM'call

[Ragna]

Okay, i can see that Pilot and Firewall can be cracked and copied, since they both are software.

But what about response and system? i cant seem to find anything on the drones' stats, but on both the rigger and smuggler, it's stated alongside the vehicle

[Backgammon]

Drones are have a Device Rating of 3, as per the table on p.214. Therefore, all of their Matrix attributes are at 3 unless you specifically jack it up by purchasing and installing better components.

Drones do not have a System rating: they have a Pilot rating.

[Ragna]

Sweet, that cleared it up for me.

Thanks

[Ragna]

Sweet, that cleared it up for me.

Thanks

[Ragna]

Sweet, that cleared it up for me.

Thanks

[Ragna]

Sweet, that cleared it up for me.

Thanks

[fistandantilus4....]

sweet, guess it's all clear for him. :D

[Critias]

What makes you say that?

[Ragna]

Sorry, internet was slow, didnt get an update when i posted reply! Just have to talk to my GM.

[nick012000]

I'll point out that security vehicles are rating 4 and militaryvehicles are rating 5.

The difference between the heavier drones and sec-grade and mil-grade vehicles is what, precisely?

[Tarko]

[Jaid]

table on page 214 in combination with info found on page 213 under 'device rating'

[Tarko]

hum... thats weird, we have no clue as wich drone/vehicule is what. Altho we can always assume, it is an other case of 'go on, make your own rules'

[Jaid]

well, here's how i would handle it:

going to the vehicle table, most of the vehicles have a simple availability rating (ie are not restricted or forbidden), if anything. some have availability of '-'

going to the military/security vehicles, of which none of those are military to my knowledge (or at least, not specifically... iirc, all of those are used by security forces legitimately) they are all restricted.

the wasp is listead as being designed for police work, and is restricted.

the banshee is listed as being designed for courier and reconnaisance duty, and is forbidden. not sure why it's forbidden as such, but perhaps it is military? then again, maybe it's just forbidden 'cause so many smugglers prefer T-birds. who knows.

of the drones, only 2 have anything beyond a basic availability: the autodoc and the steel lynx. now, IMO, the autodoc is ridiculous (medkit rating 4 is no problem, but strap some wheels on that thing and all of a sudden it's restricted? riiii-iiight....), but the steel lynx is pretty obviously either military or security.... given it's designed for 'hardened ground combat' i'm gonna say military (compare to the doberman, which also comes standard with a gun/mount, and is a perimeter patrol drone. oddly, no avail. restrictions... )

so then, pretty much the only thing that would be military, IMO, is the steel lynx. the doberman should probably be security, but has no limitations on who can own it, so i guess i'll stick it with regular (i suppose you *could* just put a taser into it or something and use it for home defense... )

and possibly the banshee for military.

but that's just how i'd rule it...

[Tarko]

[kigmatzomat]

[Jaid]

think about the regular medkit, rating 4:

availability -, 400 :nuyen:


medkit, rating 4 on wheels:

availability 8R, 4,000 :nuyen:

for 4,000 :nuyen: the organ legger can buy a dodge scoot, a rating 4 medkit, and 12 refills for that medkit. and it's all got availability -

i still am not seeing how an autodoc merits a restricted availability. it can't perform surgery or anything, it's just a drone that has a medkit in it. it's intended use is to stabilise people.

[Kev]

Yeah, but you can control the AutoDoc drone with a VCR. And maybe it's a helluvalot smaller than the Dodge Scoot. :D

[Jaid]

1) there is no VCR ;)
2) who cares. the control rig really isn't all that much more impressive than no control rig. better, yes. mind-blowingly better to such an extent that if you don't have one you may as well just drive your car into a wall it is not (unlike SR3, or so i understand)
3) bigger also means better weight capacity. ie, more cargo capabilities. it also doubles as an escape vehicle.
4) the scoot is also faster.
5) and if you prefer, you can buy a medkit (rating 4) and a C-D dalmation for 2,600 :nuyen:, plus maybe a couple more :nuyen: for a roll of duct tape, and you just got yourself a drone which is just as large, much faster (also faster than the scoot), and can *fly* wherever you need. for another 1,000 :nuyen: (3,600 total) you can get a sattellite uplink for it (plus one for your commlink) and control it from afar, and you've still got enough money left over for 8 refills on your medkit.

now then, the autodoc of previous editions might warrant a restricted rating, since i seem to recall they were able to perform surgery previously. now i could see that being something you don't want just anyone having. but at present, all they have is a medkit. which you can buy without any trouble, or even having to expend any effort looking for one.