[X] My Assistant

[KCKitsune]

I agre that the vast amount of ware available will compensate the Dice Pools quite adequately, though, as most Adepts will not go in for much in the way of augmentation. In fact, I often see Strreet Sams outstripping Adepts abilities, except in a very few cases (Elemental Damage for one).

This is why God made grenade launchers. Sure you can't make a cold grenade, but fire is easy enough (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[ggodo]

An odd question, but one I'd like to have answered. When a sprite is in a drone, does it use Response or Command?

[Yerameyahu]

Depends: are they Remote Controlling or Jumped In? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I assume if you have a sprite in the drone as a 'super-Pilot', it makes tests just like a Pilot. There's probably no reason they can't Remote Control, though. For most sprites, Response and Command should be nearly equal, right?

[ggodo]

They Should be straight up equal, as far as I can tell. I haven't got uwired, though. Are there advantages to having the sprite in direct control? I'm away from Book and interested in how rigging works.

[Emy]

Depends: are they Remote Controlling or Jumped In? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I assume if you have a sprite in the drone as a 'super-Pilot', it makes tests just like a Pilot. There's probably no reason they can't Remote Control, though. For most sprites, Response and Command should be nearly equal, right?

They Should be straight up equal, as far as I can tell. I haven't got uwired, though. Are there advantages to having the sprite in direct control? I'm away from Book and interested in how rigging works.

The difference isn't in the dicepool, it's in the action types. With remote control, whenever you want to do anything, be it a complex, simple, or free action, you need to spend a complex action to use Command. Jumped in, you take meatspace actions like a normal meatperson, so your free actions are free, you can do two simple actions in a pass, etc.

[ggodo]

So I should always have the sprite "Jumped In?" That seemed like the best option, but I'm fuzzy on how sprites interact with drones.

[Yerameyahu]

There are the same tradeoffs that normal characters have, but the nature of sprites could alter them. For a normal player, it can be easier to get Command higher, and you never suffer dumpshock or anything; Jumped In can be faster (esp. for the reasons Emy mentioned), but there are drawbacks. Sprites still have a condition monitor.

I'm not actually *certain* sprites can Jump In at all, but it seems pretty reasonable. If they can't, they may be able to more literally replace the Pilot, which means they use Autosofts instead of 'people skills'. See the table on p247, SR4A. I don't think this latter idea is right, though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

It's a little problematic: sprites are basically agents, and Pilots are basically agents, but there are major differences between each of these three things that makes assumptions dangerous. :/ Sprites generally have 'people skills', not autosofts, and we can't necessarily assume they count as replacing the specialized vehicle-control systems of the Pilot… and they lack Piloting skills.

[DireRadiant]

So I should always have the sprite "Jumped In?" That seemed like the best option, but I'm fuzzy on how sprites interact with drones.

Machine Sprites have a Command CF, that would seem to make that the expected mode of control.

This does not preclude "jumping in" though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

From fluff you could argue a Sprite doesn't have a brain to do the fancy bionuerological feedback tricks that are what "Jumping in" does.

In practical terms I'd just let a player use whatever they think is best. Choices can be fun.

[ggodo]

I'm inclined to go with Dire Radiant and just let sprites jump in, But I honestly have no idea how sprites can do anything drone related. Is there anything in Unwired that will help/clarify?

[Stahlseele]

Question:
Is he underpowered compared to the rest of the group, or compared to longbowrocks character? O.o
This is an important distinction to make i guess ^^

[Yerameyahu]

The books also say that sprites barely know anything about the non-matrix world; machine sprites are the closes thing to an exception. So, they may not be any good at driving and combat. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[ggodo]

Question:
Is he underpowered compared to the rest of the group, or compared to longbowrocks character? O.o
This is an important distinction to make i guess ^^

Everyone is underpowered compared to Longbow. I fear he is broken to the point of non-functional by my lack of understanding how sprites interact with drones. The original sheet is lost to the nether, anyway, so I'm looking to rebuild him into something that works. I don't expect him to top Longbow, but aren't riggers the most terrifying archetype? He could be up there on the power scale. I also should really exert a bit more oversight on Longbow, just so I can keep track of what he's up to.

[ggodo]

The books also say that sprites barely know anything about the non-matrix world; machine sprites are the closes thing to an exception. So, they may not be any good at driving and combat. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'm now picturing the rigger as Patten training his sprites for combat with inspiring speeches.

[Yerameyahu]

Well, you should be careful with Mr. longbowrocks. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) All I see are repeated threads about his fundamentally misreading the rules. Good-naturedly, of course.

[ggodo]

Oh, I'm watching him, alright.

[Stahlseele]

Everyone is underpowered compared to Longbow. I fear he is broken to the point of non-functional by my lack of understanding how sprites interact with drones. The original sheet is lost to the nether, anyway, so I'm looking to rebuild him into something that works. I don't expect him to top Longbow, but aren't riggers the most terrifying archetype? He could be up there on the power scale. I also should really exert a bit more oversight on Longbow, just so I can keep track of what he's up to.

i could probably give you some idea as to what he might be up to this/next time, but that's only because i seem to keep giving him ideas *snickers*
also: yes, riggers are potentially the most devastating force you can have around. a good rigger can take over a god damn batmancarrier after all...

[longbowrocks]

Well, it's not QUITE that simple. You still have to get your base skill up first to double whatever Improved Ability rating you want to get.



-k

Wait, what? I;m reading this:
"Improved Ability
Cost: .5 per level (Combat skills),
.25 per level (Physical, Social, Technical, and Vehicle skills)
This power increases the rating of a specific Active skill by 1 per
level. A skill’s maximum modified rating equals its base rating x 1.5.
Improved ability must be purchased for a specific skill, not a skill group."

[longbowrocks]

Well, you should be careful with Mr. longbowrocks. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) All I see are repeated threads about his fundamentally misreading the rules. Good-naturedly, of course.

Whoa, lets not forget that none of the characters I've put on paper have been illegal. The troll was pre-errata, but I feel like that's just being behind the times since none of our group knew (including me). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[PoliteMan]

It's a little problematic: sprites are basically agents, and Pilots are basically agents, but there are major differences between each of these three things that makes assumptions dangerous. :/ Sprites generally have 'people skills', not autosofts, and we can't necessarily assume they count as replacing the specialized vehicle-control systems of the Pilot… and they lack Piloting skills.

Except that Pilots also seem to basically be a System as well, because that simplifies things immensely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif) . Per RAW, I don't think sprites can "jump in" a drone. Isn't there a AI Quality that allows them to jump into drones, which would indicate that sprites and agents can't (don't have RC in front of me)? Of course, RAW is kinda dumb on this stuff and I don't see anything broken about it, so why not allow it? It's simpler anyway.

And yeah, be careful with riggers, especially if they can also hack (and why wouldn't they). Everything is Matrix accessible and controllable: cars on the freeway, airplanes, your toaster, that building over there. Seriously, in the future everyone still ties their own ties, because if they didn't the riggers would have choked everyone to death long ago.

[KarmaInferno]

Wait, what? I;m reading this:
"Improved Ability
Cost: .5 per level (Combat skills),
.25 per level (Physical, Social, Technical, and Vehicle skills)
This power increases the rating of a specific Active skill by 1 per
level. A skill’s maximum modified rating equals its base rating x 1.5.
Improved ability must be purchased for a specific skill, not a skill group."

"base rating x 1.5"

Ergo, your base skill must be raised to double the Improved Ability rating.

If your base skill rating is 2, your maximum modified rating is 3. Which is base skill of 2 plus Improved Ability 1.

If your base skill rating is 4, your maximum modified rating is 6. Which is base skill of 4 plus Improved Ability 2.

And so on.

Note that this maximum modified rating also applies to any other direct skill boosts. (although other direct skill boosts are rare) So if you had Widget X that gave you a +2 skill modifier (as opposed to skill DICE POOL modifier), and your base skill was 4, getting Improved Ability on top of that would not actually help you any.



-k

[longbowrocks]

Ah, I always thought skill ratings worked like attribute ratings (augmented max = 1.5 X natural max).

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Ah, I always thought skill ratings worked like attribute ratings (augmented max = 1.5 X natural max).

Nope, though that would simplify everything, wouldn't it? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

[Yerameyahu]

PoliteMan, I fully agree: Pilot=System is the main reason I assume sprites *can't* replace them. You're also right about Piloting Origin. The quality is the only thing that lets a free AI 'jump in' or/and use autosofts. While 'sprites are special', that seems to be strong evidence that they can't do that.

If the question came up while GMing, I think I'd allow high-rating Sprites to take a Power equivalent to that as a bonus power; maybe just Machine Sprites?

In conclusion, it looks like Sprites use Command. They're still a good choice, because it means your drones are hack-proof, and you can control them (IIRC?) via the Resonance link (no wireless). If the existing Pilots are already great, you can also use cheap sprites to relay orders for you in the same way, but TacNets are tough without sensor feeds. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[DireRadiant]

I'm inclined to go with Dire Radiant and just let sprites jump in, But I honestly have no idea how sprites can do anything drone related. Is there anything in Unwired that will help/clarify?

Runners Companion p. 91 for AI
"Piloting Origin
Cost: 5 or 10 BP
The AI’s origin is (or is related to) that of a drone or vehicle
pilot program. With the 5 BP version of this quality, the character
with this quality can interpret rigger signals and may “jump into”
rigged vehicles as would a rigger. The 10 BP version of this quality
is the same, except that the AI may load and directly use all autosoft
programs, using the program rating in place of its own skill."

Which would imply that' it's expected a Sprite/Agent/AI/Pilot(For a different vehicle) cannot normally "Jump in", otherwise why pay BP for the ability to do so?

[Ascalaphus]

So which drones are nice to have?