Wireless Control of Spirits, Via Satellite Matrix Uplink Options

[JanessaVR]

I’ve recently come up with a rather unique idea for drones without any sort of drive systems. They’re designed to be carried about by Air spirits…which can be controlled wirelessly via a satellite matrix uplink. Impossible according to rules, you say? You can’t control a spirit wirelessly like a drone? Ah, but you *can* - well, indirectly at least.

Some background on how this came about:

I’ve been increasingly less fond of the idea of actual shadowrunning as time passes, but I do very much like the Sixth World. Accordingly, we’ve shifted over to an alternative Sixth World campaign style where we *gasp!* actually have legal SINs and legal jobs. Sounds boring? Not really – we’re monster hunters. Who ya gonna call when the shedim are knocking on your door or you’ve sighted some ghouls in your neighborhood? Us! Based in the PCC, we’re Pueblo Paranormal Defense and we offer a full suite of services from baneful entity eradication to wards and security consulting, with worldwide service (travel expenses will be billed). Our 100% Awakened or Emerged staff are ready to serve your security needs 24/7.

The problem came about as I was looking to provide “overwatch” ability for the company’s AI (who handles all matrix work and acts a coordinator to all teams in the field as well as functioning as the office accountant). Ideally, I was looking for some drones with multi-sensor suites to be controlled via satellite uplink. The idea was for the team to go to the trouble site (if hunting actual monsters, as opposed to more mundane security consulting) and send up a small fleet of drones to spread up and out over the area, giving our AI a grand view of the entire theater of operations, and thus able to direct team members on the ground as needed as well as get as many sensor readings as were available to mundane sensors about the problem(s) in question.

Well, I poured over the vehicles & mods in Arsenal for a few weeks, on and off, tinkering with and eventually rejecting many ideas, before I finally hit on an unconventional solution – “drones” that were really just weather-proofed, aerodynamic sensor suites, designed to be carried aloft by Air spirits who would use Concealment, Guard, and Magical Guard on them. Good idea, but that would mean constant ground-based control by their summoners to move them about…hmmm…or would it?

The idea I came up with was for a saucer-shaped craft – nice clean design and good aerodynamics all around if you’re not worried about a drive system. In the center is a clear Plexiglas globe that sticks out of the top and bottom and contains a pointer needle capable of pointing in any direction. To one side of the globe is a recessed slider bar with a sliding tab and a red line marker to mark where it is on the slider – all the way to the left or right or anywhere in-between. Upon summoning/binding the spirit is given the following instructions: “Keep up your Concealment, Guard, and Magical Guard abilities on this item at all times; when your service is nearly up, set it gently on the ground in the nearest safe location you can find. When you see the arrow in the middle move, you should move the item in that direction. When you see the slider tab move, that tells you to either speed up as it moves to the right, or slow down as it moves to the left; complete left is full stop, complete right is top speed. Go.”

And there you have it – decker-controlled spirits. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

We had our custom “Saucer Sensors” mass-produced and then issued a dozen to each team in the field. An invisible sensor fleet over any area a team is operating in.

[Ixal]

How many services does this command take up exactly?
Also wouldn't the materialized spirit be a bit noticeable? Thats another service to conceal itself I guess.

[JanessaVR]

How many services does this command take up exactly?

Never really bothered to count as that's all we're asking them to do - "Look, just protect this thing as best you can and move it about as you're told." Legal at our table, at least.

[JanessaVR]

How many services does this command take up exactly?
Also wouldn't the materialized spirit be a bit noticeable? That's another service to conceal itself I guess.

Taking a quick look at the Core Rules, I'm coming up with 6 services:
1) Use Concealment on self.
2) Use Concealment on the item.
3) Use Guard on the item.
4) Use Magical Guard on the item.
5) Set the item down gently in safe area just before spirit's service is up.
6) Follow directions to move the item about.

As we have no magicians with less than Magic 6, Summoning 6 and Binding 6, that shouldn't be a real problem most of the time. As I said, in practice the "shortcut ruling" is that this can be done, assuming that's all you're asking the spirit to do.

[Tanegar]

What advantage does this offer over a normal, self-propelled drone? Electric motors don't cause drain, after all.

[JanessaVR]

What advantage does this offer over a normal, self-propelled drone? Electric motors don't cause drain, after all.

Neither are they invisible, silent, and magically-guarded. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Also, trying to modify existing drones in Arsenal was coming up with a huge cost per drone, especially if I wanted good performance from each one, whereas a "can of sensors" was comparatively cheap.

[DMiller]

I like the idea. Six services sounds right. The only problem I see is operating costs... Bound spirits get expensive too and a mage can only have one unbound spirit at a time. Sure you could summon force one or two to bind for this use to cut costs, but at that force there are tech options for an actual drone that would be cheaper in the long run.

Just my 2¥
-D

[Tanegar]

Oh, yeah. Binding materials are, what, 100 nuyen per Force per spirit? So, assuming a nice Force 3 air spirit, you're dropping 300 nuyen anytime you deploy one of these near sunrise or sunset, and anytime you want the platform to be airborne past the next sunrise or sunset. That could add up.

[JanessaVR]

I like the idea. Six services sounds right. The only problem I see is operating costs... Bound spirits get expensive too and a mage can only have one unbound spirit at a time. Sure you could summon force one or two to bind for this use to cut costs, but at that force there are tech options for an actual drone that would be cheaper in the long run.

Just my 2¥
-D

Well, as I said above, my problem was that the drones were coming in as way too expensive once I'd kitted them out - like $50k to $100k *each*.

Now imagine intelligent critter opposition - like the Infected in some cases.

Now imagine them with a .50 caliber sniper rifle, blowing our drones out of the sky.

Now imagine me screaming as I look at our profit-and-loss sheet for that case - louder than if a toxic spirit was trying to eat my face off. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

[FuelDrop]

Quick question: have you factored in that a scan for hidden nodes can find you as easily as ever? Consider adding non-standard wireless links to your sensor cans to make it harder to detect you with a commlink and scan program.
For static long-term observation I'd still say that a blimp with chameleon coating is a better choice (Throw on an additional fuel tank and it can hover above the target for 120 hours, or 5 days, and that can be doubled with improved economy. hell, in most cities there are enough blimp drones floating around that you can just throw a sun-cell on it and have it float around near indefinitely and no-one's really going to pay much attention).

Also, have you considered that an inconvenient patch of high background count could potentially send your investment crashing to the ground? might be worth using watchers to scout out the local airspace for anything like that before sending in your flyer.

[DMiller]

Here is a drone package that out team uses:

Cyberspace Designs Dragonfly Package Qty: 10 Cost: ¥70,500
Cyberspace Designs Dragonfly
Modifications: Chameleon Coating, Gecko Tips, Improved Sensor Array, Spatial Recognizer, Motion Sensor, Radio Signal Scanner, Laser Range Finder, Camera (Tridio, 6) with: Low Light, Thermographic, Vision Enhancement (3), Audio Enhancement (3), Select Sound Filter (3)

GTS Tower Package Qty:1 Cost: ¥59,350
GTS Tower (LTA Carrier Drone, Heavy, Ar121)
Modifications: Multilaunch Drone Rack, Weapon Mount (external, flexable, remote). Lighter than Air, Retrans Unit (signal 6), Chameleon Coating, Improved Sensor Array, Radio Signal Scanner (6), Laser Range Finder (front), Laser Range Finder (rear), Motion Sensor (front), Motion Sensor (rear), Radar, SunCell, Response Upgrade +2 (to rating 6), Pilot Upgrade (6), Camera (Tridio, 6) (front) with: Low Light, Thermographic, Vision Enhancement (3), Audio Enhancement (3), Select Sound Filter (3), Spatial Recognizer, Camera (Tridio, 6) (rear) with Low Light, Thermographic, Vision Enhancement (3), Audio Enhancement (3), Select Sound Filter (3), Spatial Recognizer

Spoof Chip Qty: 1 Cost: ¥500
Adaptability Autosoft (GTS Tower, Dragonfly) (3) Cost: ¥1,200
Chaser Autosoft (GTS Tower, Dragonfly) (4) Cost: ¥4,000
Covert Ops Autosoft (GTS Tower, Dragonfly) (4) Cost: ¥4,000
Clearsight Autosoft (GTS Tower, Dragonfly) (4) Cost: ¥4,000
Defense Autosoft (GTS Tower) (4) Cost: ¥2,000
Maneuver Autosoft (GTS Tower) (4) Cost: ¥2,000
ECCM (6) with Ergonomic Cost: ¥6,300

Ingram White Knight Package Qty: 1 Cost: ¥7,800
Ingram White Knight
Modifications: Barrel Extension, Chameleon Coating, Firing Selector Change (add SA), Smartgun, Thermal Suppressor, Sound Suppressor

Total cost/package: ¥161,650

Initial cost is a little high (but not for a small company). You should only need a few of these. They are not RADAR invisible, but they are very hard to see. RAW states that SunCell and Chameleon coating are incompatible, we have ruled that they can both be on the same device, they can not be both active at the same time however. If that is an acceptable ruling for your table, feel free to run with it.

With this set up you have each carrier launch 5 dragonflies at a time while 5 are charging in the drone racks. As their batteries are being used up they trade out. You can keep a lot of drones out and about by doing this.

Just a suggestion and my 2¥
-D

P.S.
Chameleon coating makes picking them off with a sniper rifle a bit harder and the machine gun means that it can defend itself.

*edited to correct spellings.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Oh, yeah. Binding materials are, what, 100 nuyen per Force per spirit? So, assuming a nice Force 3 air spirit, you're dropping 300 nuyen anytime you deploy one of these near sunrise or sunset, and anytime you want the platform to be airborne past the next sunrise or sunset. That could add up.

500 Nuyen per Rating Point of the Bound Spirit. So that Force 3 Spirit is 1500 Nuyen. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Tanegar]

500 Nuyen per Rating Point of the Bound Spirit. So that Force 3 Spirit is 1500 Nuyen. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

That'll teach me to post without looking things up. Also, OUCH.

[Ixal]

Do air spirits even have Magical Guard?

[Shaidar]

Don't forget that in order for Any Spirit to interact with the sensor Discs it first needs to Manifest, which also costs a Service.

Also, their area of operations is limited. As per SR4a pg 187.

Spirit Range: Spirits must not move farther from the summoner than the summoner’s Magic x 100 meters (if forced out of this radius, they will return as quickly as they can). If a spirit is sent beyond this range, it counts as a remote service.
Remote Services: Spirits can also be commanded to undertake a remote service, allowing it to leave the summoner’s immediate area. Remote services forfeit any other services the spirit might owe. The magician sends the spirit off to perform a particular task (or set of tasks, if more than one service is owed), which the spirit will single-mindedly pursue until it completes the task(s), it is destroyed, or its time of service ends (at sunrise or sunset). A spirit can perform a remote service in either astral or physical form, and may switch between the two as needed. Once a spirit has completed a remote service, it is technically released (unless it is a bound spirit). Spirits on remote service continue to count against the limit of summoned spirits until their remote service is completed.

[phlapjack77]

Do air spirits even have Magical Guard?

No spirits (including Air Spirits) in the basic book have Magical Guard. They should probably errata that...hah!

Don't forget that in order for Any Spirit to interact with the sensor Discs it first needs to Manifest, which also costs a Service.

I'm pretty sure this isn't true. A spirit will Materialize (or Possess) to fulfill the requirements of it's services. Materializing (or Possessing) doesn't itself cost an extra service.

Please don't disagree, then I'll be forced to dig through the books and I'm feeling lazy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Shaidar]

Isn't Materialize a Power, and thus using it is a use of a power, which uses a service.

I may very well be wrong, mildly sleep/caffeine deprived ATM.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Isn't Materialize a Power, and thus using it is a use of a power, which uses a service.

I may very well be wrong, mildly sleep/caffeine deprived ATM.

Though it is A Power, it MUST be invoked to fulfill its services in the real world, and as such it will not cost a service, because it is used in the fulfillment of its other services.

[Jaid]

yeah, spirits will use powers to fulfill other services at no added cost... using a power costs a service when you're specifically telling it to use a service.

so, for example, "manifest over there" would use a single service, but if you ordered a spirit to "attack that group", then the spirit might manifest and then use several other powers to attack the group, but it would still only count as one service.

[Ixal]

No spirits (including Air Spirits) in the basic book have Magical Guard. They should probably errata that...hah!

Is it a optional power? If yes then we are talking about force 6 spirits instead of force 3.

[JanessaVR]

Well, I know I'm on Dumpshock when there's this level of nit-picking. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Our very first house rule could be summed up as "If it's generally in line with the overall rules and world, and it makes sense for your character to be able to do it, then just do it, don't quibble over every little possible rule interpretation. We're here to play, not to argue about the rulebooks all night."

Just food for thought...

[Kiirnodel]

Is it a optional power? If yes then we are talking about force 6 spirits instead of force 3.

No. Magical Guard is a power that was added in Street Magic, so only spirits types added in that book have it. Only Plant, Guardian, and Guidance spirits have Magical Guard, and on top of that, if a spirit doesn't have Magical Guard, it doesn't have the Counterspelling skill (which is really all Magical Guard does, let them use that skill).

Well, I know I'm on Dumpshock when there's this level of nit-picking. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Our very first house rule could be summed up as "If it's generally in line with the overall rules and world, and it makes sense for your character to be able to do it, then just do it, don't quibble over every little possible rule interpretation. We're here to play, not to argue about the rulebooks all night."

Just food for thought...

...Except that you are basically trying to circumvent one of the core concepts of the world: Magic + Tech don't mix well.

[JanessaVR]

...Except that you are basically trying to circumvent one of the core concepts of the world: Magic + Tech don't mix well.

Please show me where it says spirits are unable to see objects in the physical world, unable to pick up objects in the physical world and also unable to follow basic instructions like “when you see this arrow change direction, pick up this item and move it in that direction.”

Unless you are contending that spirits are absolutely unable to do these things, then please demonstrate why my idea is absolutely impossible.

By your logic I would also be unable to issue a command to a summoned spirit to "knock the item out of that guy's hand" when he's holding a commlink - after all, the commlink is a technological item, so the spirit can't affect it, right?

[Jaid]

Please show me where it says spirits are unable to see objects in the physical world, unable to pick up objects in the physical world and also unable to follow basic instructions like “when you see this arrow change direction, pick up this item and move it in that direction.”

Unless you are contending that spirits are absolutely unable to do these things, then please demonstrate why my idea is absolutely impossible.

By your logic I would also be unable to issue a command to a summoned spirit to "knock the item out of that guy's hand" when he's holding a commlink - after all, the commlink is a technological item, so the spirit can't affect it, right?

spirits are using astral perception 24/7. precisely how much detail that lets them see, we don't know, but we do know that (for example) they cannot read as a result.

i would say it's entirely reasonable to extend that to "cannot read computer screens displaying an arrow" for example. normally if you have a physical object which moves to display what to do, that would work.

on the other hand, we also know that transparent objects in the astral are not transparent, so... yeah. some modifications will definitely be required.

and on the other other hand, what a complete and utter waste of bound spirit resources (on account of, as was pointed out, there's a pretty major range limit for summoning only, and that's 3 bound services if you want to specifically order it to maintain those 3 powers, plus another to follow conditional orders... a more generalized "protect this object" would cut it down to 1 though, i suppose, though the spirit could then make choices you might not like, such as the best way to protect the object being to hide it and go smash something that would threaten it).

seriously though, you're having *that* hard of a time finding a drone that the AI could use to provide overwatch for itself? just chuck some stormclouds in the sky. problem solved.

[JanessaVR]

spirits are using astral perception 24/7. precisely how much detail that lets them see, we don't know, but we do know that (for example) they cannot read as a result.

i would say it's entirely reasonable to extend that to "cannot read computer screens displaying an arrow" for example. normally if you have a physical object which moves to display what to do, that would work.

It's not a computer display - it's just a plexiglas globe with a physical movable arrow in the center. None of the things the spirits are expected to look at are electronic display screens. Just plain physical items - I explicitly took that into account when designing the items.