Sensor Capacity for Micro/Medium Drones, is there errata for this, or did I just miss it? Options

[Captain K]

As you might expect, given the extremely specific nature of this question, I'm asking because it's pertinent to my current character's development. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

I want to buy him a Renraku Stormcloud drone (medium-sized) and a Shiawase Kanmushi (micro-sized) specifically for the purposes of surveillance and intel-gathering, so it's going to be pretty important to know exactly how many sensors I can pack into the little things. But the RAW don't seem to mention exactly how much sensor capacity a medium drone or microdrone is meant to have.


You can look at the table on p.325 of the BBB and see specific info for the sensor capacity of minidrones, small drones and large drones. There's an entry for "Micro"--that's all it says: "Micro"--so I guess you could use that value as the sensor capacity for a microdrone. And I suppose you could house-rule that the sensor capacity for medium drones is the same as for Small or Large drones, or some arbitrary value in between.

But on p.138 of Arsenal there's an entry that makes me wonder if anything was omitted from the BBB. It explains how the vehicle modification Improved Sensor Array works:

...improving the size of the sensor package by one step: microdrone size becomes minidrone size, minidrone size becomes small drone size, small drone size becomes medium drone size, medium drone size becomes large drone size, large drone size becomes vehicle size...

Now, I'm not really interested in the Improved Sensor Array (at least, not now) but this text seems to be specifically referencing some values that I can't find anywhere in the books!


I'm hoping I've overlooked it and somebody here can point me to the relevant text. Anybody know?

[Tarantula]

Over in the handheld sensors. SR4, 325.

[Captain K]

Over in the handheld sensors. SR4, 325.

I don't mean to be too picky but the whole point of my post was that the relevant information is not on p.325 of SR4.


Unless maybe I've got an outdated printing of the book and it's been fixed since I bought it?


(EDIT: On p.13 my copy claims it is the "Corrected Second Printing by FanPro LLC" -- is yours different?)

[DireRadiant]

"microsensors
are the size of a coin or smaller and are used on micro-drones
or oft en disguised as other items;"

Look for that text on that same page. In the "SENSORS" section.

[Heath Robinson]

p. 325 Sensor Packages Table [4]
Add a line for Medium Drone with a Capacity of 6 and a Signal of 4.

[Captain K]

I guess I'm not being clear enough here. The specific question I'm trying to answer is: "How many sensors can I fit into a microdrone or a medium drone?"

If you look at the table on p325, SR4, entitled "Sensor Packages" it shows you this:

CODE

Sensor Packages       Capacity   Signal

RFID                      1        0
Micro                     1        2
Handheld/Minidrone        3        3
Mounted/Small Drone       5        4
Large Drone               8        4
Vehicle                   12       5

and then there's a relevant quote:

Each package has a Capacity rating; the total Capacity rating of the individual sensors may not exceed the package's capacity rating.

So, there's nothing specifically saying "this is the Capacity rating of a microdrone's sensor package" or "this is the Capacity rating of a medium drone's sensor package", at least not in my copy of the book. And I'm trying to figure out if those two values are explicitly stated anywhere in any book at all.

[Tarantula]

You'll also want to note p. 105 of arsenal. It gives examples of the standard loadout for vehicles, as well as mentioning common sensors for drones.

[Captain K]

Awesome, thanks Heath Robinson! Guess I just spent ten minutes typing that mess out for no reason. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)


So I'm assuming that the line that says "Micro" is stating that microdrones have sensor package Capacity ratings of 1?

[Tarantula]

Yes, the Micro is for micro sensors (like an earring or something) as well as for micro drones.

[Captain K]

Great, thanks everybody.


I should have realized it would be possible to find the errata online with a simple google. Shame on me. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/embarrassed.gif)




So then I guess I'm also curious what types of sensors everybody else likes to load their surveillance drones with?

With a microdrone being limited to only one sensor, it seems like you would basically have to use a camera if you wanted to be able to be able to give it updated commands at all. I guess you could send in two Kanmushis in tandem, outfitting one with a camera and the other with a basic microphone--you could give specific directions to the camera-equipped drone and tell the "blind" one to simply follow the other drone, and then you'd have audio and video for any room they enter together.

[Tarantula]

Well, I like giving my micro drones improved sensor arrays, and giving them a camera, motion sensor, and directional mic. Or for distance, laser mic & camera.

Why a motion sensor you ask? Cause they only have one camera, so it helps for noticing if people are moving around that corner, or coming up behind them.

[Heath Robinson]

Sensor packages depend heavily on what kind of work you're doing. Until they errata sensor enhancements taking up sensor package capacity, you should load your Microdrone (expanded to use a Minidrone sensor package) with a Microphone and Spatial Recogniser for better 360 degree movement placement than a motion sensor (400m vs 5m).

Cameras are good as well. Load your recon drones with Scan and have them run those extended tests to map out networks (effectively turning your aerial into a sensor). The last sensor can be mission specific. A Laser Range Finder is good for accurately mapping things, though.

[Captain K]

Until they errata sensor enhancements taking up sensor package capacity

Oh, that's another one I was wondering about. The current RAW don't seem to mention anything about enhancements taking up capacity slots at all, do they? Seemed a bit weird to me.

[Tarantula]

Correct. Vision enhancement/select sound filters and the like do not take up extra capacity inside of a sensor. Do note, they will increase the availability of the sensor though.

[Captain K]

Page 105 of Arsenal says:

At the gamemaster's discretion, any particular vehicle may come fitted with a different combination of sensors, as long they don't exceed the package's Capacity. Likewise, cameras and microphones may come equipped with additional vision of audio enhancements.

So, how do you handle this in your games? If I buy that Renraku Stormcloud can I just pick six Capacity worth of sensors and have them included in the drone's purchase price? Or should the cost be adjusted for certain sensors (and/or enhancements)--maybe those with higher or more restricted Availability than the drone itself? Also, should we increase the availability of the drone if I'm looking for included sensors that have higher Availability than the drone?

I haven't really done much with drones in SR4 before, so this is all uncharted territory for me, and for everyone in my group as well.

[Tarantula]

I'd say that the highest availability of any part would apply to the entire drone. Yes, in my games, you just pick 6 capacity worth of sensors for example. As long as the sensors are about the same cost as the base sensors it'd come with, I wouldn't charge anything extra. Though, wanting a drone to come with ultrawideband radar or something, I'd make you pay for it.

[Captain K]

Thanks for letting me bounce ideas around. I'm really getting into this, and I haven't even talked to my GM yet. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)


How about sensor software? Seems like it would be incredibly useful to load up a surveillance drone with facial recognition software, park it outside a target's workplace, and tell it "alert me when you see this person". And that's just the beginning.

Also, ultrawideband radar seems cool as hell. I'm trying to google up something that shows it actually works in 2008 for "through-the wall" 3D radar imaging, but every hit shows me card catalog listings for theoretical research papers!

[Tarantula]

Yes, but the software will count against the drones running software. Limited you from running other important things like clearsight, or dodge.

[Heath Robinson]

Yes, but the software will count against the drones running software. Limited you from running other important things like clearsight, or dodge.

Dodge is seriously not an issue for a recon drone. Especially a microdrone - they're ridiculously difficult to spot, let alone hit. Clearsight + Sensorsoft is only 2 of your 3 program limit.

[Tarantula]

You're right, I mean, they only cost a thousands of nuyen, and are instantly destroyed by a successful attack if they notice them. And how hard is it to find a wireless node again? Even if its hidden?

[Heath Robinson]

About 4-5 CTs for a midway decent hacker. The role he was discussing, though, is not a high risk position for a microdrone. If he has Image Mag on the drone's camera then it can be far enough away that the target will never spot it.

Okay, let's assume a perceptive fellow with Intuition 3 and Perception 3, he's got Vision Enhancement 2 on his contacts or eyes (because, if you could, you would do it). His DP to spot the drone is 8 against a Threshold of 4. That's not all that bad, especially if he gets to Edge it, right? Except he's taking -5 in penalties right way because the drone is using Vision Mag and is, therefore, placed far away (hitting both the "not in immediate area" and "far away" penalties for a double whammy; they stack imo). He's also probably distracted by his desire to get away from work, not get hit by traffic or find his own vehicle for another -2. He's rolling 1 dice against a Threshold of 4, i.e. Impossible. If he can use Edge (I dunno, maybe he's using prime runner rules or something), then he gets a chance that is slightly larger than zero.

Now, you could say that our target is, instead, the Sensorzombie (he's watching you masturbate!) and that requires a totally different plan, probably involving a spy satellite.

The drone isn't moving, it's just waiting until a particular event occurs and then calling home to alert the rigger. This is relatively innocuous - it's a drone that's sitting on a surface and waiting, maybe it's recharging, maybe it's waiting for more orders, maybe it's got a good, legitimate reason to be there. Drones are pretty rife in SR as far as I have been told and, unless your target is really special, it's unlikely to be linked to the person you're watching for (presumably there are a bunch of people working at the place you're watching).

[Tarantula]

Why would you use a microdrone? Because it can get closer and not be identified.

Its nice and all that you want to take a microdrone and stick it somewhere, and wait for it to see someone, but why bother using a drone when you can buy a micro camera (for a couple hundred nuyen) for the exact same purpose? If you are so far away, you don't need to have it capable of moving on its own, and you certainly aren't taking advantage of any other sensors you might have on it (microphone, etc).

[Heath Robinson]

Easy repurposement: one transmission and the drone is performing some other role in some other location. The fact that the drone delivers itself to surveillance posts. It can circumvent many barriers to placement by being relatively innocuous and difficult to notice. It's less noticable when being deployed by dint of not being a recognisable metahuman shape and being one member of the swarms of drones that buzz around the city. It's far less tracable because nobody is putting it in place, and that lack of tracability is easier to come by.

Drones are convenient, and for someone who intends to do a lot of this kind of work that convenience can be worth it.

[Tarantula]

Lets go with a different tack then.

Chances of this kanmushi successfully spotting and noticing the guy its looking for.

Pilot 3
Sensor 1
Rating 3 Device means System 3, Response 3.
Clearsight 3
Facial Recognition 3

Drone gets to roll sensor + clearsight to see the metahuman. Metahumans have a -3 penalty for detection via sensors. Drone gets 1 die. Theres a 16% chance the drone critically glitches, and thinks something is a person when it isn't. 50% change it just outright fails to notice the person. and a 33% chance it succesfully spots the human.

Then, with its rating 3 facial recognition... it might average out a success. Then again, you're already betting on a 33% chance of actually noticing the right guy anyway.

[Tachi]

Why would you use a microdrone? Because it can get closer and not be identified.

Its nice and all that you want to take a microdrone and stick it somewhere, and wait for it to see someone, but why bother using a drone when you can buy a micro camera (for a couple hundred nuyen) for the exact same purpose? If you are so far away, you don't need to have it capable of moving on its own, and you certainly aren't taking advantage of any other sensors you might have on it (microphone, etc).

My thoughts exactly. Why spend the money for a drone when it's easier (and cheaper) to buy a dozen microcams, climb a few fire escapes, and plant them under the eaves facing all the target building's known entrances? If you want a drone for backup, or to follow the target when he leaves, then just hide a recon drone on one of the roofs and set it to power up when the cameras detect their target.