Drone Spotter, 'Cause drones dont need rations Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Switch to: Outline Switch to: Standard Linear+

[Socinus]

Alright, I'm putting together a character that uses sniper rifles and I want to give him a drone to use as a spotter.

I'm not really sure which drones to go for. I'd been looking at the Aztechnology Crawler, to have something that would sit next to the character. But I was also looking at something like the Renraku Stormcloud.

I know Improved Sensor Array is a must, but I'd also like to have more vision modes, sensors, etc etc.

Any ideas?

[suoq]

Personal favorite:

MCT Fly Spy with:
gecko tips
chameleon coating
improved sensor array
2 cameras (front/back)
1 microphone
1 ultrawideband sensor array

[Fatum]

Nissan Rotodrone is an omnipresent universal flying drone...
Though, frankly, you have to be more specific - pretty much anything fits your current description with an upgraded sensor suite.

[Yerameyahu]

You see this a lot, but does anyone actually need a spotter? It's easier to have superior sensors just on your person, especially because you're the one firing. Unless it's for tacnet, or info-guided, but you said 'beside me'. :/

[Fatum]

Well, in actuality, unless we're talking a very specific campaign centered around a single character, the first question would be: how often does your typical shadowrunner team need a sniper to begin with?
And the answer would be: not very often.

[Yerameyahu]

Heh. There's also that. That, and the fact that anyone with a scope is a sniper in SR4. But those are context, not too important to this question. In technical SR4 terms, what good is a spotter to a sniper? (Beyond the utility of a spy drone to all characters, I mean.)

[Socinus]

You see this a lot, but does anyone actually need a spotter? It's easier to have superior sensors just on your person, especially because you're the one firing. Unless it's for tacnet, or info-guided, but you said 'beside me'. :/

I wouldnt say no to the additional dice to take a difficult shot. It also doesn't hurt to have an extra set of (lenses) to survey the area.

[Yerameyahu]

Sure, but you can't really run a 2-man (worse, 1-man + drone) tacnet, and I tend to think the GM is less convinced if the sensors are all co-located. You'd want your drone buddies far away getting alternate angles. I'm saying I don't see you getting any extra dice; maybe a second Perception check, if your is that bad?

[Neraph]

If you're trying to get TacNet bonuses, you need at least 2 drones plus yourself, and that's only for a R1 TacNet.

[CanRay]

This Old Drone gives you a lot of options that aren't full of RFID tags and other nasties! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Kirk]

Not gaming, but the main job of the spotter is to make up for the fact the shooter has ultimate tunnel vision.

[Fatum]

Not gaming, but the main job of the spotter is to make up for the fact the shooter has ultimate tunnel vision.

In RL, yeah, but in SR that is not covered by the rules in any way I can think of.

[Yerameyahu]

Yeah, I definitely understand the spotter role in general, but I'm just asking if anyone has a SR4 mechanical use. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Tacnets and info-guided are cool, but they general involve remote spotters, and definitely more than 2 units.

In SR4, you'd probably have a minor Distracted penalty to Perception, which you already get for doing… anything. :/

[Mardrax]

In RL, yeah, but in SR that is not covered by the rules in any way I can think of.

Sure it is.
The gunner will be distracted while aiming for (Gun Skill) number of rounds (for maximum Take Aim bonus, and negating range), while the spotter wouldn't be.

[Yerameyahu]

Yeah, but everyone is Distracted (a paltry -2, I think?). A dude with a pistol, a cell phone, anything. Anyone not actively on lookout. My thinking is that the sniper will have a better Perception roll with -2 than basically any drone, even with very expensive Sensors and Programs.

[Kirk]

Yeah, but everyone is Distracted (a paltry -2, I think?). A dude with a pistol, a cell phone, anything. Anyone not actively on lookout. My thinking is that the sniper will have a better Perception roll with -2 than basically any drone, even with very expensive Sensors and Programs.

A spotter is "actively looking" for targets for the sniper. That's +3 while the sniper is at -2 for being "distracted" (or in this case "focused" might be a more accurate term).

For the OP's use, I think adding Visual Spotter and/or Weapon Watcher software (AR 61) to the drone would be a start.

[Yerameyahu]

Yes. It depends on what Actively Looking includes, and what you're asking him to do. Is he watching the area for bad guys, or just one area (in which case, he's Distracted everywhere else), and so on.

The sniper can run those using his own comm and sensors, though, which are likely better. My point isn't that a spotter is worthless, but that it's maybe not worth enough to bother with. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Kirk]

Yes. It depends on what Actively Looking includes, and what you're asking him to do. Is he watching the area for bad guys, or just one area (in which case, he's Distracted everywhere else), and so on.

The sniper can run those using his own comm and sensors, though, which are likely better. My point isn't that a spotter is worthless, but that it's maybe not worth enough to bother with. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Yes, he can run them through his own. At the same time if the sniper owns the drone and intends it for that purpose I'd expect it to have at least similar quality sensors/comms. A good pilot with adaptability and targeting autosofts help. And there's still that +3 vs the sniper's -2.

Let's see. R3 sensor software is 600¥ each, and R3 autosofts are 1500¥ each, so 2100 for visual spotter (3) and clearsight (3) to add +6 to the drone's perception. A doberman with sensor 3 is 3000. For 5100 its perception is 3+3+3+3 [edited] (watching) = 12 perception dice. Is that enough? depends on the user. Is it worth it? depends on the user.

For max software I have to spend 2000 for R4 clearsight, 3000 for R6 visual spotter. Optimizing both to run on a Pilot 3 will cost me another 600 apiece or 1200 total. There are a LOT of ways to make an R6 sensor, but a camera (6) with magnification, low-light, and flare comp is a mere 850. 2000 + 3000 + 1200 + 850 = 7050 + 3000 for the drone is 10,050 for a 16 [edited] dice spotter. Again the question of whether it is worth the price is up to the player -- some might say yes, others no.

[Yerameyahu]

It does depend on the player's other gear. Most of mine have crazy high Perception pools, and already invested in solid comms and sensors, so that's a less cost. If you're doing the Sensor 6 cheat, then that certainly helps… against a bad GM. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Even after the drone spots a target, the shooter still must as well, and the +5 difference only matters while he's actually scoped in on an existing target. Hmm.

You definitely can make a handy spy drone, no doubt. The thing is that literally everyone should have a handy spy drone; I'm just asking if it particularly helps a sniper.

[DWC]

WAR includes rules for using Leadership to direct fire, providing someone else with a bonus to a ranged attack test. Neatly covers both the spotter's role and the JTAC's job.

[Yerameyahu]

Well, I 'm glad Leadership does *something*. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I dunno if it applies to a drone.

We may be focusing too much on the bonuses, anyway. Just because you're not getting a +2 to the shot doesn't mean it's not useful in less rigid ways, of course. It depends on the GM, I guess, and the exact role of the sniper. If it's just shooting one guy, the drone would be more useful on remote recon/shadowing. If it's participating in a prolonged combat scene, then having something keep an eye on the whole scene continuously would be handy, tacnet or not.

[CanRay]

With a personality and an Agent program, couldn't the rifle itself be the spotter?

[Yerameyahu]

Probably, but that's even more toward what I said was the biggest flaw: it has to be right there with the sniper. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) The most useful spotter is flying far away, right?

As far as I know, Personality doesn't actually have a function, so just the Agent should work. It doesn't even have to run on the gun, it just needs the sensor feed. Besides, you're *using* the gun's sensors already to be zoomed in, right?

[CanRay]

All depends on your point of view. And the spotter's point of view, as well. If there's a lot of overhead coverage, flying up isn't going to help much.

[Yerameyahu]

I guess. Still, it's hard to imagine many situations that a tiny flying bug wouldn't be ideal. Even if it's only to land and perch somewhere for the real spying. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) If there's room for a sniper shot, there's room for that.