Various Combat assists, or getting +4 Augmented Reality bonus! |
Various Combat assists, or getting +4 Augmented Reality bonus! |
Jan 24 2008, 01:32 AM
Post
#1
|
|
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 22-November 06 Member No.: 9,934 |
currently the way I attempt to garner the bonus is bby using Micro skimmers on a preprogrammed command to update user data on the network automatically and input new data as needed.
basically this gives my team a 3D HUD and ambush directional for combat, we always will know where the enemy is and where they are moving in real time not just their present location whenever the hacker can get his turn to update positions. the sensory enhancements of the dornes can be overlayed onto the subscribers of the network etc... what else can we add to always get the bonus? in addition what do we need to add that we are missing in order to gain the non rules advantages in combat and noncombat. |
|
|
Jan 24 2008, 01:49 AM
Post
#2
|
|
Cybernetic Blood Mage Group: Members Posts: 3,472 Joined: 11-March 06 From: Northeastern Wyoming Member No.: 8,361 |
The question that I would be asking is how do you keep your shiny toy from being hacked/jammed?
*Edit* Or being the target of Ball Lighting? |
|
|
Jan 24 2008, 02:17 AM
Post
#3
|
|||
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 22-November 06 Member No.: 9,934 |
in our campaign I have 4 microskimmers and 2 flyspy's covered in Ruthenium, that are the "real" ones, and i have 5 that are not that are dummy drones to occupy attention from hackers teamates. along with sprites, agents and general security... obviously we are running hidden, and that coupled with background traffic makes it hard to find the correct network. so if the hacker is spending time on the drones he's not inhibiting me from hacking his buddies and that's a win win. since they are all within 10m most of the time jamming is going to not be a big deal. area jamming cuts out the enemy as well. so no fault there. if they want to shoot the drones they are shooting them and not me....again...win win... edit: ball lighting is spells not cast at us...win win... |
||
|
|||
Jan 25 2008, 05:06 AM
Post
#4
|
|
Cybernetic Blood Mage Group: Members Posts: 3,472 Joined: 11-March 06 From: Northeastern Wyoming Member No.: 8,361 |
Something to remember is that a ball lightening cast at your drones stands a very good chance of frying you as well.
And unless I'm misreading the jamming rules, the fact that you are keeping your drones close to you won't actually help, although I imagine that you could spend the necessary money to boost your drones signal as high as possible and hope for the best. I don't consider the fact that jamming takes everyone off the air to be a huge deturant in most cases. For most sec-guards, it's better for everyone to be blind since they already have the "home turf" advantage and their job isn't really to capture the Runners, they just need to delay them long enough for the heavy backup to arrive. |
|
|
Jan 25 2008, 07:29 AM
Post
#5
|
|
Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,556 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Seattle Member No.: 98 |
Sometimes having a bigass network of drones around you is great. You get cool bonuses like this one.
Sometimes having a bigass network of drones around you is a good way to have your radio signal triangulated and some seriously heavy fire put down on your head before you realize you've entered someone's free-fire zone. You decide :) |
|
|
Jan 25 2008, 04:56 PM
Post
#6
|
|
Awakened Asset Group: Members Posts: 4,464 Joined: 9-April 05 From: AGS, North German League Member No.: 7,309 |
The drone network trick can work really good. Be careful indoors, grenades don´t discriminate inside their detonation area.
Consider having a radar sensor installed and relay information from that. What I would/do allow: - target aquisition without direct LOS (at -2 DP due to coordination issues) - tactical coordination of ambushes (DP bonus for surprise based on tactics test) - information about armor weaknesses (DP bonus for Called shots) Note that you will not get +4 on principle. |
|
|
Jan 25 2008, 07:56 PM
Post
#7
|
|||
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 22-November 06 Member No.: 9,934 |
th real issue is not really getting the flat +4 bonus however since +4 is the max, that is what I am shooting for. the real purpose of the drones is to have other bonuses like you suggested. I'm of the mind that non specific non rules related bonuses are much better than "hey you get an extra die" the drones scouting ahead finding traps alerting to realtime tactical information etc... if someone throws ball lighting at the drones they are going to be zapping themselves. true signal jamming if successful can mess up the wireless part of this plan, however I have a backup plan for that. |
||
|
|||
Jan 27 2008, 08:30 AM
Post
#8
|
|||||
Cybernetic Blood Mage Group: Members Posts: 3,472 Joined: 11-March 06 From: Northeastern Wyoming Member No.: 8,361 |
Perhaps, but with the goodness of being able to counterspell your own weaves it might very well be the lesser of two evils.
Which is? (I'm going to assume that you are thinking about using lasers, which in turn would be defeatable by the smoke which the sec-guards should already be using anyways.) |
||||
|
|||||
Jan 27 2008, 06:29 PM
Post
#9
|
|
Shooting Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 1,755 Joined: 5-September 06 From: UCAS Member No.: 9,313 |
It's my understanding that +2VR bonus if for "matrix tests". Matrix tests as defined in BBB early in matrix section are tests in which program replaces Attribute.
Example; Skill+Program+2 in full VR Other tests would'nt receive bonus then? |
|
|
Jan 27 2008, 07:03 PM
Post
#10
|
|
Awakened Asset Group: Members Posts: 4,464 Joined: 9-April 05 From: AGS, North German League Member No.: 7,309 |
How many drones are you loosing on average? The rigger in my group who uses that trick found that once or twice per round a drone will be the only target security has, even if one is careful. Not that expensive, but has to be accounted for.
|
|
|
Jan 27 2008, 07:16 PM
Post
#11
|
|
Shooting Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 1,755 Joined: 5-September 06 From: UCAS Member No.: 9,313 |
I'm allowing the bonus +1 per team member max of +4 as long as everyones shareing info via commlink with at least one person (hacker) coordinating. I'd allow drones to stand in for team members for that purpose.
|
|
|
Jan 28 2008, 04:43 AM
Post
#12
|
|||
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 22-November 06 Member No.: 9,934 |
that's something we hadn't thought of. we always look to see how much above the "norm" you are and then just go hrm...seems like a +2. our method didn't seem too consistent. So far I've been lucky enough to keep the drones in cover or unseen when they were the only available targets. I'd be losing prolly 2 per run once my luck runs out. he throws ball lighting and has to resist drain, in addition he and his companions are in the area, that's better than losing a few drones. why would they be using smoke? okay they throw smoke and now can't see. that's not very smart. edit: how long do your combat's usually last? |
||
|
|||
Jan 28 2008, 05:14 AM
Post
#13
|
|||
Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
I could see that getting silly in a platoon situation. I'm thinking a straight +2 (or even +3 if a really good vantage point is achieved by one linked party) across the board for anyone 'linked' to the network (including drones). Seems more than adequate. |
||
|
|||
Jan 28 2008, 05:23 AM
Post
#14
|
|
Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 5,537 Joined: 27-August 06 From: Albuquerque NM Member No.: 9,234 |
Plus you need 4 successes to affect the drones at all. Which needs 12 dice of magic/sorcery on average. Not your average SR4 mage.
|
|
|
Jan 28 2008, 05:27 AM
Post
#15
|
|||
Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
Not your average SR4 NPC mage. ;) |
||
|
|||
Jan 28 2008, 06:28 AM
Post
#16
|
|
Cybernetic Blood Mage Group: Members Posts: 3,472 Joined: 11-March 06 From: Northeastern Wyoming Member No.: 8,361 |
Unless I've misread something indirect spells don't have to deal with object resistance. Although it's true that the mage would have to resist drain and possibly be fried, remember that your mirco-skimmers will always fail after being hit by the smallest electrical attack since they don't even get a resistance roll, and your flyspys aren't much better off with a ( Dicepool 1 ). (Of course, ARSE might have rules that change things.)
AS for throwing smoke, why in the hells wouldn't the sec-guards be using their control of the enviroment to their fullest advantage? Not only should they be throwing smoke, they should also be lobbing flashpacks, turning the lights off, jamming everything, and using supression fire/cover. In the end their job isn't to defeat the runners, they just need to slow the runners down long enough for backup to arrive. As for how long my combats last, the answer is that it varies quite a bit depending on the exact situation and whether or not one side or the other can get the drop on the other. However, I try to run my NPCs as realistically as possible, which means that in the majority of cases they want to be able to walk away from the firefight so they are going to be fighting as defensivably as possible. |
|
|
Jan 28 2008, 01:04 PM
Post
#17
|
|
Awakened Asset Group: Members Posts: 4,464 Joined: 9-April 05 From: AGS, North German League Member No.: 7,309 |
The mages answer is/should be a to expend a combat service on a spirit of choice, preferably Air/w. Elemental Attack Lightning. Not ball lightning. Close combat shreds drones, and drones won´t escape a spirit.
Out of sight/hidden is hard to do indoors, because even ruthenium and size mod won´t fool someone with Visual Enhancement 3. Or high Int/Perception. A radio signal scanner 6 is a whopping 150 ¥, should that option be to expensive for your taste. If collateral damage is not an issue, shred small drones with grenades. Suppressive fire works real well, too. -- Combats vary in length. Security Guards are constantly retreating or hiding. Engaging them costs a great amount of time, ignoring them carries the risk of sudden attack. The all-out attack is left in the domain of gangs and Fast Response Teams. While the former usually go down fast, the latter are reason for the runners to flee. The main function of the drones is keeping tabs on the guards. You will want to know of incomming attacks beforehand, but you will usually not want personal LOS. The doberman is great at closing possible vectors of attack at the same time, but that would be leaving the topic of this thread. |
|
|
Jan 28 2008, 01:25 PM
Post
#18
|
|||
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 22-November 06 Member No.: 9,934 |
I see the difference in our games now. the average security guard doesn't have cybereyes and multiple vision enhancements. they are full essence cheap replacements. if they die big deal you hire another one. they are not the High threat response team who is in route once the alarm is sounded. so throwing smoke blinds them. flash bang disorients them. jamming them prevents communication to the other guards and results in friendly fire. a mage is going to be employed only at highly sensetive areas, not every high security location. and even then not 24/7. he's expensive cuz he's magic.
because they are people. not robots. they don't respond exactly the same way to every situation. if a shadowrunner walks through the high security door and doesn't have a pass the security guard doesn't open fire. he says "hey buddy you can't be back here." they don't use 100% strategically sound tactics because its the heat of the moment they are hardened professionals they are guys who have families to go home to. Doc Wagon HTR, the Jaguar units, or red samurai, or Tir Ghost squad... those guys aren't security guards. |
||
|
|||
Jan 28 2008, 03:24 PM
Post
#19
|
|
Cybernetic Blood Mage Group: Members Posts: 3,472 Joined: 11-March 06 From: Northeastern Wyoming Member No.: 8,361 |
No, you don't "see the difference between our games", taking cover in order to avoid being shot at and falling back to the corp's SOP responce to being invaded is a far cry from being a robot that uses 100% strategically sound tactics.
Although given the cheapness of low grade cyberware and the fact that the corps can mandate implantation while forcing the sec-guards to pay for it, there isn't any reason for sec-guards not to have gone under the knife, although before you "see another difference" no, I'm not saying that sec-guards are sub-essence cyberzombies. As for mages, sure they are rare and can't be everywhere at once, however as Ryu has pointed out spirits are relatively cheap and any target that actually needs your drone sensor net should be important enough to warrent better protection. |
|
|
Jan 28 2008, 04:56 PM
Post
#20
|
|||
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 22-November 06 Member No.: 9,934 |
I like the change fortune suggested, just have to look at 8 different levels of the AR "bonus" levels 1-4 add their rating to all test, levels -1 through -4 add their levels to the bonus as well. I think using a further level decreasing IP's by one should take care of additional hacking attemps to overload the users. such as throwing a spam virus giving him 2 popups for every popup he closes. anoying in AR but detrimental in combat. taking cover isn't considered a tactic its a response its something everyone does, who has common sense. "OMG they are shooting DUCK!" retreating is a tactical decision, is it good to retreat now? is it bad? if you shoot the guard in the leg, he's thinking "crap it ain't worth minimum wage! you can have it!" the drone that is linked to the guys who just shot him whizzes around the corner, instead of shooting it (which will piss off the rigger). he runs away. yeah spirits can patrol an area for cheaper than a mage...but you get what you pay for.
just so there is no confusion your security guards are cybered up and mine aren't...that's one difference. |
||
|
|||
Jan 28 2008, 05:46 PM
Post
#21
|
|||||
Awakened Asset Group: Members Posts: 4,464 Joined: 9-April 05 From: AGS, North German League Member No.: 7,309 |
What I wrote is in reference to normal sec guards. Googles with Smartlink, Visual Enhancement 3 and Flare Comp are avail 10 / 850 ¥ and can be shared between shifts. The visual enhancement is a no-brainer for guards, since people sneaking by are detected via perception. And smartlink googles are a given for a security corp. The aforementioned sensor is 150 ¥. Retreating and regrouping is a standard strategy for unaugmented guards that face runners. This is where your drones are at their best; the group itself does not have time for pursuit. In situations where you can deploy a drone network, the guards are on active alert (or will soon be on alert). |
||||
|
|||||
Jan 28 2008, 07:25 PM
Post
#22
|
|||
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 22-November 06 Member No.: 9,934 |
in theory that logic is good, and if the facility is new the goggles are in great condition, but after its been there for a year, they get broken lost, the batteries are only good for 25% charge, and then maybe one or two people have working goggles that are on the fritz alot. for the sensor you have to have someone operate it and have the appropriate skill for its use. not everyone is going to have that, and while an extremely sensetive area would have it the normal security wouldn't neccissarily still have a working one if they had one in the first place. btw, the higher level security zones where they all have working gear, and/or minor cheap cyber. yeah I'm still working out the details on strategies for those areas and your thoughts on what they should be doing are great. most of the time retreating to regroup ends up being retreat to surrender. again higher paid guards at a more secure facility would retreat regroup and disorient to ambush. |
||
|
|||
Jan 28 2008, 08:19 PM
Post
#23
|
|
Awakened Asset Group: Members Posts: 4,464 Joined: 9-April 05 From: AGS, North German League Member No.: 7,309 |
Remember that I GM for a player with that strategy. It works financially in our group because they can afford to replace lost drones. I rarely have to use augmented guards with these strategies, as they can provide enough of a challenge.
A well-equipped group, with someone like you, one who has worked out a drone support strategy, will not be challenged by guards with bad equipment. So your campaign will move up to better targets. With the players in my group we have to start at that point. A quarter million spend on bioware and weapons does make normal security into easy prey. But on the higer level you can really have fun with your drone network. You need ground combat drones, aerial combat drones, and small recon drones of all kinds. All at the same time. Recon drones scout ahead, aerial combat drones provide flexible firepower around the firebase of your team, and ground combat drones are left at strategic point defending an avenue of retreat. Having multiple recon drones running is not exactly a priority, having all in one slot (commanded as group) really becomes an option. |
|
|
Jan 29 2008, 12:28 AM
Post
#24
|
|||
Cybernetic Blood Mage Group: Members Posts: 3,472 Joined: 11-March 06 From: Northeastern Wyoming Member No.: 8,361 |
And there is a huge difference between the corps forcing sec-guards to go under the knife and turning them into a high threat responce team as you claimed above, just as there is a huge difference between having sec-guards that aren't cowardly morons and recruiting Tir Ghosts. And if you are going to assume that sec-guard equipment is subject to being maintained as an arguement why sec-guards won't have working equipment then your DM should also be charging the characters with upkeep costs. |
||
|
|||
Jan 29 2008, 01:53 AM
Post
#25
|
|||
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 22-November 06 Member No.: 9,934 |
still working out the finances, we tend to just scrape by. and have a little extra to save on. if the runs don't go perfect we tend to get screwed, and we have a few players that jump the gun alot. so finding a way to get the maximum ability is kinda crucial upkeep on your gear is something that is accounted for in purchasing a lifestyle |
||
|
|||
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 19th April 2024 - 07:41 AM |
Topps, Inc has sole ownership of the names, logo, artwork, marks, photographs, sounds, audio, video and/or any proprietary material used in connection with the game Shadowrun. Topps, Inc has granted permission to the Dumpshock Forums to use such names, logos, artwork, marks and/or any proprietary materials for promotional and informational purposes on its website but does not endorse, and is not affiliated with the Dumpshock Forums in any official capacity whatsoever.