REAL Personal Tacnet Options

[Yerameyahu]

I don't think smell is underrated; everyone always mentions it in these Tacnet threads. It has some potential, occasional uses.

Alone, I think you could say the Tacnet software functions as a Knowsoft for 'tactics' or whatever, per Mike's above. I dunno if Rating+2 is the right level, but perhaps.

[KCKitsune]

If he has two other people contributing, then yes!
(I.e. those two comlinks don't count)

I was asking about Mike's interpretation of TacNet and not RAW. I know the RAW has that you have to have 3+ members.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

So it's a waste of money (or programming time) just to have all my various senses arranged in AR?

What about the analytical side? Could I get initiative bonuses? Would it give me any advice?

I can see how it would actually give dicepool bonuses based on the fluff, for example it would know from my cybereyes with thermographic vision that the bad guy is behind that wall, and it's analytical engine would hear, through my cyberears, him loading a clip, so it could tell me to find cover, giving me that split second advantage as it would also now where the cover was and AR cues as to it's direction.

Actually, no... There is the rule that AR can give up to a +2 Bonus in the Main Book. The Tacnet replaces that if you have a group... in our games, if there is a single person doing something, and he has access to AR and various sensors that can interact, he can net himself a few dice from time to time, when it is advantageous for him to do so...

You can just use the generic AR bonused presented in the Main book (which are a GM call for what you can use the bonus for) or you can use the Tacnet Rules in Unwired and benefit from a Tactical Netowrk... They both work...

Keep the Faith

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

The mage would not benefit from the tacnet 4 (not enough data provided). IMO it would have been sufficient to not count the mage as a contributing member for the tacnet.

Actually, if he joined the Tactical Network, he would downgrade the network to a +3 Bonus... The Tactical Network functions at the capabilities of the lowest contributor...

Keep the Faith

[Yerameyahu]

No, no, we're *not* talking about RAW, guys. At least, we hadn't been. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

No, no, we're *not* talking about RAW, guys. At least, we hadn't been. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Oooohhhhh Kay...

So... Interpretation then... I have absolutely no problem with a fully functional Tacnet (with 7 Members/Drones aprticipating) providing additional members (beyond the requirements for the Net, and with less channels than required) with the Tacnet Bonus (+4) that is currently available... this could also work for lesser rated Tacnets as well, of course...

In fact, I do not see why you would not do that... You satisfy the rules for the bonus, and you have/provide additional personnel that can provide additional channels in other locations to actively use the Battlefield Data... That whole Fog of War thing that was mentioned earlier...

Keep the Faith

[MikeKozar]

So MikeKozar, if my Chaos Mage who has 6 Sensor channels (Radar, Ultrasound, Cybereyes with Thermographic, Cyberears with Audio Enhancement, Olfactory Booster*, & Orientation System) and has Cyber Commlink cluster** [two rating 4 'links], would he be able to run the Threat Prediction & Avoidance and Optimal Approach & Attack System portions of the TacNet software?

My guideline for rule-bending has always been that anything that does not alter the balance of power, but is more cinematic, dramatic, or amusing, should be allowed. In this case, let's consider how far off the standard rules we really are: You're running TacNet on 3 nodes, with (collectively) access to 6 (Or is it 8? Standard Video and Audio count, right?) sensor channels. Your nodes are carried, instead of drone-mounted, which means you only have one location's worth of data. If we consider 8 to be the most channels you will have access to, and each node is using 2 channels for a three-member TacNet1, you might get a +1. There aren't enough channels to run a TacNet2 (3 members @ 4 channels) per RAW.

Furthermore, your limited battlefield perspective means that the TacNet can only analyse things that are within your line-of-sense; enemies taking cover may be able to escape your knowledge because of your limited point of view compared to a traditional TacNet. As a GM, I would try and bring this up fairly often, since your TacNet is kind of crippled compared to a real TacNet. Any time the enemy is firing from concealment, you might lose that +1.

So, would I allow a +1 if you brought three commlinks and the enemy was in your field of view? Sure. You paid for it, and it's not gamebreaking. As Tymeaus pointed out, using AR is listed as a discretionary +2 bonus, so giving you a +1 is really a compromise. I would feel obliged to point out that for a modest investment in spydrones, you could get up to a +3 TacNet fairly easily, and with greater battlefield intelligence. In fact, I would probably have the TacNet berate you in character for having Inadequate Operational Intelligence! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

If he has two other people contributing, then yes!
(I.e. those two comlinks don't count)

That's kind of an interesting point: If he had two Ferret drones tailing him, he'd be a three-member TacNet, right? If those drones were riding along with him, strapped to a belt prior to deployment, for instance, wouldn't they still count? If the drones were those immobile sensor balls that you chuck out into the field, that would still count, right? Per RAW, it requires enough members and sensors to earn the bonus. The way I see it, if drones are allowed, then 'members' is easy. A one-man TacNet just has very limited perspective, and won't always be effective; more to the point, there are less expensive ways to get a +1 and less troublesome ways to get a functional TacNet.