[X] My Assistant

[sabs]

Maybe I'm targetting by smell (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
But I agree, it would be better if we used the appropriate sensor, instead of using a big sensor rating.

Also, I think that all sensors should have a rating of 1-6.. make life easier.

[Yerameyahu]

You can try targeting by smell, but there are special rules for that; it wouldn't be a normal sensor test. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Game2BHappy]

Sorry about the tangential question here, but I saw a reference here (and in other threads) to Autosofts at a rating higher than 4. When I look in the core book (anniversary at least) and Arsenal I see each with the "(Rating 1-4)" listing next to them. I'm not trying to prove anyone wrong - I'm just trying to find out if there is a RAW way to advance these beyond Rating 4?

[EDIT]: Just noticed there was another active thread discussing this. Back to the regular programmed discussion! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Yerameyahu]

Possibly you can code your own above 4, and that's just the max available on the market. I'll check the book. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

… I can't find anything that specifically says you can't, so I guess that means GM-approval. The ruling that autosoft tech simply hasn't advanced beyond rating 4 is as valid as the ruling that you can make your own, so whatever works for your table. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Summerstorm]

I am pretty sure that, like skillsofts, they are limited to prevent someone/something to be better at some actions than a person who learned and perfected that skill naturally in years of experience. And i like that. (The only thing which can be better than a specialist metahuman, OF COURSE, is a spirit).

They are limited, and you should love it. If your drones need to be better you will need to jump in and do it yourself, as a rigger/technomancer.

Also it makes sense: To have a rigid set of instructions and lifeless data to be better than someone who actively tailored the skill to his mind, body and has an extensive "data-library" for all eventualities AND who can improvise, it would need to be insanely complicated. Way beyond the techniques used in 2072, i think.

[Yerameyahu]

That's true: autosofts *are* skillsofts for Pilots. Does it explicitly say that skillsofts can't exist at rating 6? I wasn't aware. I know it says that they're hard to program and "limited in rating", and aren't available to *buy* higher than 4 (5 for non-actives), but does that mean they can't be written higher?

[Summerstorm]

Hm.. good point. I read through the stuff (on high speed though.. so i might have missed something), but not really: Autosofts can be programmed (skillsofts not, though... i guess they have to be recorded and cleaned up, which limits them by default - and only corps have enough staff/tech to do it). And they can benefit from optimization and have no entry on limited ratings.

So yeah, we can apparently have a rating 12 targeting autosoft (+6 levels optimization) running on a modified Steel Lynx for 18 dice (12 skill + 6 Pilot) and can raise that with active targetting... also with a 12 clearsight software)

Hm... i don't like it *g*

[Yerameyahu]

Of course, you'll spend months doing that. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) And the corp military will probably kill you and take it, or maybe just enslave you. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Good point, though: I forgot there apparently aren't rules for programming skillsofts.

[Ascalaphus]

I don't allow skillsofts and autosofts above 4. Autosofts are basically skillsofts for drones, so the same reasons apply as for skillsofts;

A skillsoft is based on analyzing the common denominator of the skill as displayed by a range of people. Just a single person isn't enough to build a skillsoft off; you need to separate idiosyncrasies from actual useful method.

At the higher-ratings of skills, the differences between practitioners tend to grow and finding a common denominator becomes next to impossible; rating 4 would be extremely hard to create as is.

[Of course this a fluff rationalization; I just don't want 'soft skills to have the kind of long-term potential that karma-bought skills have.]