Multi-tasking Adept Power..., Smartlink bonus for dual weilding? Options

[Triggerz]

Ok. In another thread, I said that I worked hard at keeping my munchkinism in check... I LIED!!! :P I don't really intend on taking that power anytime soon as it just doesn't really fit with my character concept, I think - other than for the specific use discussed below -, but I was wondering what people think about Multi-Tasking.

Even though the BBB rules about firing two weapons at the same time are pretty clear on the issue - "Two-gun attacks also negate any dice pool bonuses from smartlinks or laser sights." -, it seems to me that the Multi-Tasking power is intended precisely for that kind of stuff - i.e. tracking two smartlink crosses (or laser sight dots) at the same time -, so I'm asking for your opinion...

An adept with the Multi-Tasking power is firing two smartlinked weapons at the same time. Would you:

a) Give the adept the full smartlink for each weapon provided that both crosses are in the same field of vision?

b) Give half of the bonus to each weapon to make it slightly less munchkinized?

c) Not give the adept any bonus whatsoever because of the BBB rule quoted above?

d) Use some other option?

Also, what *else* would you use that power for?

[I edited the punctuation to make it clearer... Yes, I am that anal.]

[lorechaser]

I would go with the middle version (+1/2 the smartlink bonus) personally. That puts it on par with Improved Combat Ability, but in a more specialized category. It allows you to stack another die, but only applies during dual wielding.

[Steak and Spirit...]

Option E - Give the adept a salty fish, and a pint of warm beer.

[fistandantilus4....]

I give 'em the full +2 each, because they're already splitting the pool in half, might as well dice them one more dice/bone

[X-Kalibur]

I always assumed the smartlinks not working was a technical issue. The way they work is they overlay your sight with the guncam in SR4 (in SR3 they merely put a crosshair in your vision) 2 guns overlaying your sight is a great way to get sick, regardless of multi-tasking, even 2 crosshairs could be difficult to keep track of, especially since they both have to go thru the same system.

I'd give them nothing... and I've even played a dual wielding adept.

As for other options it could be for things like picking a lock and shooting at the same time. Interfacing with AR while doing any numerous things without a penalty.

[Mistwalker]

I'd give them full smart link for both.

[Butterblume]

I'd give 'em something. I think about +1 or +2 per weapon if it comes up sometimes ;).

[Fortune]

I'd give them nothing. I don't think Adepts need even more advantages that Sammies can't hope to equal.

[WhiskeyMac]

I'd probably give them the full bonus, however, to balance it out I would give mundanes the full smartlink bonus if they had 2 induction pads, paid for with essence. Why? Cause it seems like Shadowrun is biased in the favor of magic already so why not give the mundanes a chance. It's kinda silly that you have to have a power for it though, why not just make it a quality to go along with ambidextrous. 5 pnts for the ability to use full smartlink bonus for split pool attacks when dual-wielding sounds fair enough.

Now, what about if you're firing both weapons at the same target, pulling the triggers at the same time? Do you still split pool even though you're "technically" only making 1 attack on 1 target, just with 2 weapons at the same time? In that case would you still keep the full smartlink bonus or would you half it, instead of completely throwing it out the window?

[Steak and Spirit...]

Fortune may recall 'The John Woo Chip'... Perhaps not.

None the less, it was a SR3 piece of houseruled cyberware that managed to propagate itself around the online shadowrun MUSH community that was essentially an additional sub-processor unit that interfaced with a Smartlink, and secondary induction pad, allowing a partial bonus' from smartlinks to be applied to dual wielded firearms.

I think it was 0.25 Essence, =Y= 11,000? I could be way off.

In either case: No, you don't need to give Adepts anything else that Mundanes can't touch. They've already duplicated every ability, and have an entire slew of their own, unique specialties.

Give them old fish, warm beer, and tell them they already have access to plenty of Improved Ability dice.

[lorechaser]

[Fortune]

[Butterblume]

Being a wireless world, induction pads would still work. Just last week, I saw a car from around 1930...

This doesn't explain why smartlinks with induction pads would give the bonus, and wireless wouldn't, or why it would only work for mundanes.

[Fortune]

[WhiskeyMac]

[fistandantilus4....]

I've never really understood an in-game reason that this wouldn't work. OOG, you could simply say rules balance, but that doesn't make any sense in game. You could say there trouble differentiating, but you could just make them different colors. I could understand there being modifiers for using two pistols, but having the ability to see where each one is going to hit should be a huge help. There should be some sort of positive modifier. I know it's an old rant, but it still bothers me.

Wasn't there a example run from like second edition where the characters were supposed to field test this?

[Butterblume]

[Lagomorph]

[Mistwalker]

Sine I would allow this to work for an adept, I would also allow it in a quality with ambidexterity as a prerequisite. As well, I would allow it for an extra "induction pad", hmm, actually would probably insist that it be an induction pad in each hand, paid with essence (a la SR3 broken down essence cost of smartlinks or something like that)

[Jaid]

it should be noted that technically, if you only use the smartlink on one gun, you get the full bonus to that gun... as such, the very least you should do is continue to give them that full bonus to one gun. giving them 1/2 the bonus to each gun can be a useful option i suppose, if you assume that you can't split your dice pool unevenly in the first place. certainly, it's not overbalancing any more than the full bonus to one gun.

[Fortune]

All this talk about Induction Pads.

A simple Skinlink on the Smartlinked gun takes the place of an Induction Pad, with no loss in utility. There is no need for it anymore. I understand that old ones would still be around, but very few people would install one (or two) in 2070, when the cheaper, Essense-free Skinlink option gives the same security.

So, if people are willing to grant that an Induction Pad in each hand would be a suitable requirement, then why is that even a need for this restriction at all?

Smartlinks in 2070 are Wireless by default, granting all the benefits of all components of the SR3 Smartlink, including Induction Pads. Even the only benefit a Skinlink adds is added security against outside hacking.

I'm not sure I follow the logic involved that would require an outdated piece of tech to perform a function perfectly that is within the range of modern, more available, and less Essence-invasive tech.

[Fortune]

I think I'm having problems with the terminology. If you were to say that a kind of cybernetic Smartlink Co-processor™ (costing .05 or .1 Essence as an add-on to an implanted Smartlink) instead of an Induction Pad in each hand, then I have no problems with that.

[Fortune]

[Mistwalker]

[Jaid]