Rigger Build (Core Book Only) With Some Face-Man, Please make suggestions Options

[Graushwein]

Remember I can only use the core book.

Metatype : Human
Mundane

Attributes
Body: 3
Agility: 3
Reaction: 3
Strength: 2
Charisma: 3
Intuition: 3
Logic: 5 (7)
Willpower: 4

Edge: 4
Initiative: 6
Essence: 3.625

Active Skills
Automatics (Assault rifles) : 3 (5)
Dodge (Ranged Combat) : 4 (6)
Electronic Warfare (Encryption) : 5 (7)
Pilot Aircraft : 3
Pilot Anthroform : 3
Pilot Ground Craft : 3
Heavy Weapons (Grenade Launchers) : 4 (6)
Computer (Analyse) : 3 (5)
Hacking : 4

Knowledge Skills
English : N
Black Markets : 5
Cantonese (Speak) : 1
Corporate Politics : 4
Japanese (Speak) : 1
Italian (Speak) : 1
Local Junkyards (Drone Yards) : 6
Mandarin (Speak) : 1
Area Knowledge : 1
Business (Manufacturing) : 1

Positive Qualities
More Than Metahuman

Negative Qualities
SINner
Weak Immune System

Biowares
Sleep Regulator
Cerebral Booster 2

Cyberwares
Control Rig
Voice Modulator
+ Secondary Voice Pattern (Rating 1)
+ Datajack
Sim Module
+ Hot-Sim Module
Skillwires (Rating 3)
Commlink (1/2)
Smartlink

Vehicles
Shiawase Kanmushi (Microdrone)
MCT Fly-Spy (Minidrone)
3x GM-Nissan Doberman (Medium)

Armors
Armor Jacket
Clothing (Regular)
Actioneer Businnes Clothes

Weapons
Ares Alpha
Airburst Link
Ares Crusader
Stick-n-Shock (10 shots)
12x Fragmentation
4x Spare Clips
3x Ares Alpha (Free) [LMG or smaller comes standard with Doberman Drones]
3x Airburst Link [For Dobermans]
45x Regular Ammo (10 shots)
15x Tracer (10 shots)

Equipments
Tool Kit
Shop
Light Stick
Stimulant Patch (Rating 4)
Certified Credstick (Silver)
+ MAD Scanner (Rating 3)
Latex Face Mask

Commlinks
Analyze (Rating 5)
Armor (Rating 5)
Biofeedback Filters (Rating 5)
Browse (Rating 5)
Command (Rating 6)
Decrypt (Rating 5)
ECCM (Rating 5)
Edit (Rating 5)
Encrypt (Rating 5)
Exploit (Rating 5)
Medic (Rating 5)
Reality Filter (Rating 5)
Scan (Rating 5)
Sniffer (Rating 5)
Spoof (Rating 5)
Track (Rating 5)
OS : Vector Xim
Response Upgrade (5)
Signal Upgrade (5)
Firewall (Rating 5)
System (Rating 5)
Agent/IC/Pilot (Rating 4)
Clearsight Autosoft (Rating 6)
Electronic Warfare Autosoft (Rating 6)
Maneuver (Vehicle Type) Autosoft (Rating 6)
Targeting (Weapon) Autosoft (Rating 6)
Covert Ops Autosoft (Rating 6)
Tag Eraser
Activesoft (Rating 3) Disguise
Activesoft (Rating 3) Con
Activesoft (Rating 3) Negotiation
Activesoft (Rating 3) Aeronautics Mechanic
Activesoft (Rating 3) Autommotive Mechanic
Activesoft (Rating 3) First Aid
Activesoft (Rating 3) Infiltration

Contacts
Bartender (L:2 C:3)
Arms Dealer (L:2 C:3)
Fixer (L:3 C:4)


[EDIT I'm thinking about losing the Pilot software because there's not much difference betwee 3 and 4 pilot to warrant the cost?]

[Ryu]

You need Gunnery (ballistic weapons), and Perception. Loads of both . I would increase Reaction and Intuition at the cost of Logic and Edge. Note that your skillwire dicepools will be dangerously low if you don´t augment the respective dicepool somehow.

[Cain]

[EDIT I'm thinking about losing the Pilot software because there's not much difference betwee 3 and 4 pilot to warrant the cost?]

Do NOT delete the Pilot, whatever you do. In fact, buy extras. Technically speaking, each Pilot program is specific, so the Pilot for a Fly-Spy cannot be used to run a Doberman. Pilot acts as System for drones; so not only does it give you an extra dice for general use, it gives you an extra die when you use your autosofts.

Dump the sleep regulator. It's mostly a fluff item.

Use the money from the sleep regulator to buy a top-of-the-line commlink, using the rules on p240. You can easily get a R:5 S:5 commlink, and buy your own top-rated System and Firewall from the gear chapter.

[Octopiii]

You use Gunnery when firing a weapon while jumped in a drone, not the weapon's "normal" skill.

You need Perception, or you'll never be able to see anything.

Dump the cerebral booster, you don't use your attributes on tests when you're jumped in or in the matrix.

Reaction Enhancers will boost your initiative, which will help when you're jumped in: you still get to use your own initiative. (Wired reflexes is not a bad idea either; you don't get the extra initive passes while jumped in, but you still get the bonus to reaction).

You're going to want Willpower one higher, to give you an extra box on your stun track - also, when jumped in via hot sim, you get hit for half the damage your drone takes, Stun. You still get to resist this with willpower+biofeedback.

I, personally, like sleep regulators (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) . Not all missions are over in the course of an hour. But if you're squeezed for cash, a reaction enhancer is a better piece of equipment.

[Graushwein]

Do NOT delete the Pilot, whatever you do. In fact, buy extras. Technically speaking, each Pilot program is specific, so the Pilot for a Fly-Spy cannot be used to run a Doberman. Pilot acts as System for drones; so not only does it give you an extra dice for general use, it gives you an extra die when you use your autosofts.

Dump the sleep regulator. It's mostly a fluff item.

Use the money from the sleep regulator to buy a top-of-the-line commlink, using the rules on p240. You can easily get a R:5 S:5 commlink, and buy your own top-rated System and Firewall from the gear chapter.

I actually did that then purchased the system and firewall on pg 228 so that the whole system was way cheaper because a bought a low one and upgraded it to be better than a more expensive top of the line one.
OS : Vector Xim
Response Upgrade (5)
Signal Upgrade (5)
Firewall (Rating 5)
System (Rating 5)

I am planning on hacking the pilot program and using it on all 3 of my Drone Dobermans. The way I'll hack it is so that I'll always have 1 registered copy that can be updated, and in turn copied and hacked again, and the others will be on the unregistered copies. I've worked out how to do this but I just don't have it with me here. I'll do the same with the autosofts. All of the other drones I'll be jumped in so the autosofts and pilot won't matter because all that matters then is the sensors right?
At least it says so on Unwired pg. 204

Ryu, your right about perception, thanks.

I don't understand how remote controlled works. Let me give an example of what I mean.

Say I have 8 Dobermans but only 3 IP actions per round. If I have all 8 Dobermans subscribe could I only use the remote controlled rules for 3 Drones, 6 because it is a simple action, or all 8? If so why would Jumping In be better than remote control?

[Ryu]

Attributes
Body: 4
Agility: 2
Reaction: 2
Strength: 2
Charisma: 3
Intuition: 5
Logic: 3 (5)
Willpower: 3

Edge: 3
Initiative: 7
Essence: 3.625

30 BP saved. More than Metahuman has to go, 35 BP. Autosofts are only available up to rating 4, some ressources become available.

I would improve the skillset, remove the skillwire system, and invest the money saved from skillsofts into a nice set of tools and a transport for the drones.

[Graushwein]

First a question:
I don't understand how remote controlled works. Let me give an example of what I mean.

Say I have 8 Dobermans but only 3 IP actions per round. If I have all 8 Dobermans subscribe could I only use the remote controlled rules for 3 Drones, 6 because it is a simple action, or all 8? If so why would Jumping In be better than remote control?


I have decided that I will do some hacking. Here is my new revision.

Metatype : Human
Mundane

Attributes
Body: 3
Agility: 4 (6)
Reaction: 4
Strength: 1 (3)
Charisma: 3
Intuition: 3
Logic: 5 (7)
Willpower: 3

Edge: 3
Initiative: 7
Essence: 2.1

Positive Qualities
More Than Metahuman

Negative Qualities
SINner
Weak Immune System
Allergy unc/mod
Gold
Incompetent

Active Skills
Dodge (Ranged Combat) : 4 (6)
Electronic Warfare (Encryption) : 4 (6)
Pilot Aircraft (Remote Operation) : 3 (5)
Pilot Anthroform (Remote Operation) : 3 (5)
Pilot Ground Craft (Remote Operation) : 3 (5)
Computer (Analyse) : 3 (5)
Hacking : 4
Perception : 4
Gunnery (Ballistic) : 6 ( 8 )
Inflitration (Urban) : 3 (5)

Cyberwares
Commlink (1/2)
Hot-Sim Module (- 60%)
Control Rig
+ Datajack
Skillwires (Rating 3)
Smartlink
Voice Modulator
+ Secondary Voice Pattern (Rating 1)
Muscle Replacement (Rating 2)

Biowares
Cerebral Booster 2

Weapons
Ares Alpha
2x Tracer (10 shots)
2x EX-Explosive Rounds (10 shots)
2x Pepper Punch Gas Grenade
3x Ares Alpha (Free)
3x Airburst Link
12x Fragmentation
45x Regular Ammo (10 shots)
15x Tracer (10 shots)

Armors
Armor Jacket
Clothing (Regular)
Actioneer Businnes Clothes

Vehicles
Shiawase Kanmushi (Microdrone)
MCT Fly-Spy (Minidrone)
3x GM-Nissan Doberman (Medium)

Commlinks
Analyze (Rating 5)
Armor (Rating 5)
Biofeedback Filters (Rating 5)
Browse (Rating 5)
Command (Rating 6)
Decrypt (Rating 5)
ECCM (Rating 5)
Edit (Rating 5)
Encrypt (Rating 5)
Exploit (Rating 5)
Reality Filter (Rating 5)
Scan (Rating 5)
Sniffer (Rating 5)
Spoof (Rating 5)
Track (Rating 5)

OS : Vector Xim
Response Upgrade (5)
Signal Upgrade (5)
Firewall (Rating 5)
System (Rating 5)

Agent/IC/Pilot (Rating 4)
Clearsight Autosoft (Rating 6)
Maneuver (Vehicle Type) Autosoft (Rating 6)
Targeting (Weapon) Autosoft (Rating 6)
Covert Ops Autosoft (Rating 6)
Tag Eraser
Activesoft (Rating 3) Disguise
Activesoft (Rating 3) Con
Activesoft (Rating 3) Negotiation
Activesoft (Rating 3) Aeronautics Mechanic
Activesoft (Rating 3) Autommotive Mechanic
Activesoft (Rating 3) First Aid
Activesoft (Rating 3) Hardware
Activesoft (Rating 3) Data Search

Equipments
Light Stick
Stimulant Patch (Rating 4)
Certified Credstick (Silver)
+ MAD Scanner (Rating 3)
Latex Face Mask
Shop

[Cain]

First a question:
I don't understand how remote controlled works. Let me give an example of what I mean.

Say I have 8 Dobermans but only 3 IP actions per round. If I have all 8 Dobermans subscribe could I only use the remote controlled rules for 3 Drones, 6 because it is a simple action, or all 8? If so why would Jumping In be better than remote control?

Okay, as per p221, Issuing a Command is a simple action. But, if you give all the Dobermans the same order, you can compress it all into the same single action. Otherwise, you can only issue 6 distinct commands: 2 Simple Actions per IP.

The advantage of jumping into a drone is that you get to use your skills and initiative. So, if your skills are better than the drone's Pilot + Autosoft, you'll do much better. You'll also avoid having to make Comprehension tests on complicated orders. If you're not as good as the Pilot, or have less than 3 IP's, you are indeed better off in "Captain's Chair" mode.

[Ryu]

Dude, the autosofts! What´s with the muscle replacement?

Issue Command (Simple Action) - Give one order to a device or group of devices.
- Order options: Drone/multiple drones: Fire weapon X at target Y once/until target is dead
- Order timing: You give the order on your IP, the drones execute it on their pilots IP(s), but as they understand it

Jumping in/Command device (complex action)
- Order options: whatever you want to spend your IP on
- Order timing: Execution on your IP(s)


Why jumping in? You need more than a dog-brain (to avoid civilian casualties, for example. Moves = target doesn´t work always), or you want decent dicepools.

[ElFenrir]

Hate to be cliche here, but, unless you have a real background bit, try this:

Race: Ork

Body: 4(0)
Agility: 4(30)
Reaction: 4(30)
Strength: 3(0)
Charisma: 3(20)
Intuition: 3(20)
Logic: 4(30)
Willpower: 3(20)

Cerebral Booster will make his logic 4(6), which is still great. The 20 BP you spent on Body(human 3), went to Ork, and dropping Logic to 4(one under Ork max), freed up another 10 BP to use as you want. With this, you can probably ditch the muscle replacement unless you really wanted Agility, and if that's the case, just get a couple levels of muscle toner instead.

[Graushwein]

Dude, the autosofts! What´s with the muscle replacement?

Why? Because if I were to buy the stats strait up 2 points I would be paying 40 BP. If I buy the muscle replacements it is WAY less BP.

Hate to be cliche here, but, unless you have a real background bit, try this:

Race: Ork

That is a great point about being Ork. I'll look into that. I do however want to have very high skills at keeping my drones from being taken from me or hacked so I want a high logic.

[Graushwein]

Well to me it seems that if I got with ork I'm paying the same BP to have one higher body and strength when I don't need them, and losing a point of logic. Plus I am losing some knowledge skills because of that loss. And I only gaine 4,000 by taking muscle toner instead of replacements. You didn't factor in Edge though.
Ork (20)
Body: 4(0)
Agility: 4(30)
Reaction: 4(30)
Strength: 3(0)
Charisma: 3(20)
Intuition: 3(20)
Logic: 4(30)
Willpower: 3(20)
EDGE 3(20) TOTAL 190

Human (0)
Body: 3(20)
Agility: 4(30)
Reaction: 4(30)
Strength: 1(0) Becomes 3 with Muscle replacement and don't need more.
Charisma: 3(20)
Intuition: 3(20)
Logic: 5(40)
Willpower: 3(20)
EDGE 3(10) TOTAL 190

I did the math for the other races and to get the stats I want: Dwarf is more expensive by 5 and elf by 10.

[Knight Saber]

It might be a style thing, but why the Alpha as a personal weapon? When acting as a rigger, you should be directing drones more than firing yourself and a face shouldn't be lugging around an assault rifle... tends to make people nervous. A pistol or SMG would work better as a personal defense weapon.

[Graushwein]

It might be a style thing, but why the Alpha as a personal weapon? When acting as a rigger, you should be directing drones more than firing yourself and a face shouldn't be lugging around an assault rifle... tends to make people nervous. A pistol or SMG would work better as a personal defense weapon.

It is left over from when I thought that controlling drones to shoot used the appropriate shooting skill, IE automatics, instead of just plain gunnery. I found something I wanted to use as well as my drones. Now I can't figure out what to use for personal defense being that I hope to never personally find my body anywhere near a firefight. What weapon would you recommend?

I thought that having the grenade launcher would help out my comrades in this unlikely occurance. But as you mention it, yes I do need a pistol.

Overall does it look like a pretty good Rigger and moderate hacker?

[Ryu]

You have rigging covered, but are missing a means of matrix defense/offense. Depends on your game if that will be an issue. If you think it will, consider the Cracking group. Hacking is for the same reasons "solid until you are caught".

I would recommend the Hardware skill for building your own response chips (50% rebate! ca-ching!), but the utility will again depend on the game. Complicated drone scripts will require the Software skill, so you could consider the Electronics group.

Attribute-wise you have lost your rigger/face focus. You need Intuition, Charisma, and for background-reasons Logic. Everything else is an extra.

[Graushwein]

You have rigging covered, but are missing a means of matrix defense/offense. Depends on your game if that will be an issue. If you think it will, consider the Cracking group. Hacking is for the same reasons "solid until you are caught".

I would recommend the Hardware skill for building your own response chips (50% rebate! ca-ching!), but the utility will again depend on the game. Complicated drone scripts will require the Software skill, so you could consider the Electronics group.

Attribute-wise you have lost your rigger/face focus. You need Intuition, Charisma, and for background-reasons Logic. Everything else is an extra.

I agree I have lost my Face focus but that is because the 4th PC doesn't sound like he's going to play. Since we have a TM and a street samurai I wanted to make sure I could back up both. I think that the face part will have to come later. Now that you mention it I'll need to get cybercombat and hacking to backup the TM if it comes to that.

At this point I'm thinking my character is mostly done to what I want it to be. Now comes to time to take it to the GM and explain the character and issues.

I know I need a weapon that I am competent in using in person but I'm not sure what I'm going to do about it. Off the top of my head I'd like to have a small concealable drone that I can take with me to protect me in those binds. Maybe something that fits in a backpack or something that can fire a pistol?

[ornot]

If you are concerned about BP economy, I'd suggest losing some of the specialisations. They are nice, but they are cheaper to buy with karma, and the BP can be spent to boost some of those Face skills you were thinking about buying later.

[Octopiii]

I do however want to have very high skills at keeping my drones from being taken from me or hacked so I want a high logic.

Under RAW, logic does not factor into ANY matrix tests. All the Logic based matrix skills (electronics group, hacking group) use Skill+Program.

[Graushwein]

Under RAW, logic does not factor into ANY matrix tests. All the Logic based matrix skills (electronics group, hacking group) use Skill+Program.

I don't understand what RAW is.

[Ringo]

RAW = Rules As Written. Means the rules as they are written in the rules book (no house rules, no mods, etc.)

[Graushwein]

Hmm, I guess I have played too many games where the abilities are used whenever a skill is used. However what your saying is that you only use the attributes when the rules specifically state it?

If so I'm not complaining, its just a first in the many RPG's I've played.

[Octopiii]

Yes. Almost in every instance outside of the matrix that I can think of it will be Attribute + Skill (save for some very limited Attribute+Attribute tests); when doing matrix actions (jumped in, remote controlled, hacking a node, etc) it will be Skill+Program... you don't really have a body in the Matrix after all.