SR5 Smartgun System, Trodes , Smartlink Options

[DireRadiant]

So I got a shiny smartgun and a set of trodes, do I actually need to buy a smartlink?

Trodes give me DNI, which means you do not need an image link for example.

Smartlinks are Vision enhancements.

Discuss.

[Jack VII]

I'd say yes. The smartgun sends out signals, but the smartlink is what interprets them correctly.

Without a smartlink, a smartgun system just sends out data that isn’t received by anyone and has no effect.

[Lobo0705]

Yes, you would need the smartlink.

As you point out, the trodes bypass the need for an imagelink, so for instance, since all guns provide an ARO displaying ammunition levels and firing mode, you would be able to "see" that information even without the imagelink.

To gain the benefit of the smartgun system, you still need the smartlink component.

[DireRadiant]

Ok, so if I do need to have the smartlink where does it go? As a vision enhancement there is a defined capacity and price, but if there isn't a vision system to plug it into, how does ti work.

Maybe a third fake eyeball will work...

[Epicedion]

Ok, so if I do need to have the smartlink where does it go? As a vision enhancement there is a defined capacity and price, but if there isn't a vision system to plug it into, how does ti work.

Maybe a third fake eyeball will work...

The smartlink is available in Eyeware, with an essence cost. Probably means installation in the visual cortex.

[DireRadiant]

The smartlink is available in Eyeware, with an essence cost. Probably means installation in the visual cortex.

It's also available as a Vision Enhancement without an essence cost. Having Trodes means you get DNI without paying essence so do you still have to pay essence to also get a smartlink?

[Epicedion]

It's also available as a Vision Enhancement without an essence cost. Having Trodes means you get DNI without paying essence so do you still have to pay essence to also get a smartlink?

Vision Enhancements have to be added to gear such as glasses or goggles, with capacity.

[DireRadiant]

Vision Enhancements have to be added to gear such as glasses or goggles, with capacity.

So what is the point of Trodes? Even if I have Trodes, I need to pay essence for vision and audio enhancements in order to have them?

p. 222 "On the other hand, if you use AR
with a direct neural interface like trodes or an implant,
you can use all of your senses to view AR without any
extra devices."

[Jack VII]

Trodes would allow you to interface with the smartlink through DNI. Then you would be able to switch the firing mode, eject the clip, and fire your weapon without having to pull the trigger... all with your mind!

[Epicedion]

So what is the point of Trodes? Even if I have Trodes, I need to pay essence for vision and audio enhancements in order to have them?

p. 222 "On the other hand, if you use AR
with a direct neural interface like trodes or an implant,
you can use all of your senses to view AR without any
extra devices."

Partly this:

Trodes would allow you to interface with the smartlink through DNI. Then you would be able to switch the firing mode, eject the clip, and fire your weapon without having to pull the trigger... all with your mind!

Except all firearms (except throwbacks) have those capabilities. So you can take a gun with no smartlink system and still use DNI to switch modes, etc.

Trodes are primarily for DNI with your commlink and other devices, so you can pick up AROs and/or jump into VR.

If you have Trodes on, you don't need an image link or earbuds for basic sight and sound, but it won't set you up with the other stuff like smartlinks and spatial recognizers and vision magnification -- you still need to get those installed in some device (or into your head).

[Jack VII]

Except all firearms (except throwbacks) have those capabilities. So you can take a gun with no smartlink system and still use DNI to switch modes, etc.

Yeah, just slower without a smartlink (at least according to most of the book other than the firearms Wireless bonus section).

[Jack VII]

So what is the point of Trodes? Even if I have Trodes, I need to pay essence for vision and audio enhancements in order to have them?

Trodes basically let you get by without an image link or sound link and also give you a DNI.

You can definitely have a smartlink without paying essence for it (it just isn't as good). Just install the smartlink in goggles/glasses/whatever and then connect it wirelessly or by wire to your smartgun modified weapon. You can also use your DNI to wirelessly change the device settings of your imaging device as a free action, which is nice. Note that this opens up a lot of wireless points that could be hacked.

[Lobo0705]

Pretty much exactly what everyone else has been saying.

With Trodes, it gives you a DNI. This allows you to:

See, hear, and touch AROs without any other piece of equipment.

For example - all firearms display AROs that show ammo levels and firing mode - with the trodes, you will be able to see that information without any other piece of equipment (or ware).

In addition to that, it will allow you to eject a clip or change a firing mode as a Free Action - wirelessly.

With the smartlink installed in some capacity (whether essence or not), it will allow you to do this AND also fire the weapon without pulling the trigger, shoot around corners, increase the Accuracy by 2, AND if you have the wireless on, you also get +1 or +2 dice depending on whether you paid essence for your smartlink or not.

[Dolanar]

Trodes allow you to direct things by thinking about it (much like modern pilots use meshweave sensors to handle some of their HUD stuff for them), the Trodes will allow you to think about calling your ally, & the call will go through, the the smartlink connects your video device to your gun, the Image Link, puts your tactical HUD in your field of view, it allows you to see any information you need on a visual device that has the Image Link. By connecting your other senses you can hear a readout of your available ammo, hear the wind direction, or see a fake pole with the proper type of wind signal on your glasses.

[Lobo0705]

Trodes allow you to direct things by thinking about it (much like modern pilots use meshweave sensors to handle some of their HUD stuff for them), the Trodes will allow you to think about calling your ally, & the call will go through, the the smartlink connects your video device to your gun, the Image Link, puts your tactical HUD in your field of view, it allows you to see any information you need on a visual device that has the Image Link. By connecting your other senses you can hear a readout of your available ammo, hear the wind direction, or see a fake pole with the proper type of wind signal on your glasses.

It is even better than that. It has a DNI, which means you don't need an Image Link, or glasses, or any other piece of equipment that just feeds you raw data. Your Commlink would feed a picture direct to your brain through the DNI and not through an image link. You DO need a Smartlink, or Vision Mag, or other things that manipulate that data, which you would then access through the DNI connection to that piece of equipment.

[SpellBinder]

The descriptions of the smartlink and smartgun both reference to each other in their use, and a smartlink is required to get the bonuses to the dice pool and accuracy. Ejecting a clip and changing fire modes are listed in the wireless bonus, and a DNI is not listed as a requirement for it at all.

It's stupid, but just having a smartgun online means you can eject the magazine or change the firing mode as a free action. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/silly.gif)

[Lobo0705]

You don't need a DNI to change fire modes or eject a clip as a free action if you have a smartlink and a smargun system.

You do need a DNI to do so if you don't have a smartlink and a smartgun system.

With a smarlink and a smartgun system, you can also fire the gun without pulling the trigger - which you can't do with only a DNI.

[Jack VII]

The descriptions of the smartlink and smartgun both reference to each other in their use, and a smartlink is required to get the bonuses to the dice pool and accuracy. Ejecting a clip and changing fire modes are listed in the wireless bonus, and a DNI is not listed as a requirement for it at all.

It's stupid, but just having a smartgun online means you can eject the magazine or change the firing mode as a free action. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/silly.gif)

If you look at the Changed Linked Device mode and the Eject Smartgun Clip Free Actions, it explicitly states in one and implies in the other that a DNI is required (why this isn't mentioned in the equipment section, I couldn't guess).

The Change Linked Device Free Action states:

A character may use a Free Action to activate, deactivate, or switch the mode on any device that he is linked to by a direct neural interface through either a wired or wireless link. This includes activating cyberware, changing a smartgun’s firing mode...

That's the explicit one. The implicit one is in the Eject Smartgun Clip action:

A character linked to a ready smartgun may use a mental command to eject the weapon’s clip.

While in this case it doesn't explicitly reference a DNI. I would note that the Change Linked Device Free Action uses the terminology "linked" to refer to a connection with a DNI. Additionally, the action refers to "mental command," which I believe is the domain of DNI.

I'll readily admit that the rules aren't clear on that, but I think there's enough evidence to suggest it's the case.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

It's stupid, but just having a smartgun online means you can eject the magazine or change the firing mode as a free action. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/silly.gif)

You hit that one right on the head. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

[Lobo0705]

"It's stupid, but just having a smartgun online means you can eject the magazine or change the firing mode as a free action."

Maybe its me, but I'm not seeing the problem with that?

If you have a DNI, you can eject the magazine or change the firing mode with ANY gun. The smartlink only allows you to do this with a gun that you have had specifically modified to do so. The DNI also allows you lots of other goodies (seeing/hearing AROs, etc)

The smartgun system/smartlink combo allows you to duplicate some of the effects of the DNI - but you have to pay for the smartlink and you have to pay for the smartgun system itself.

What is the problem? (not being sarcastic - just genuinely asking the question).

[DireRadiant]

The only thing I am really needing out of this is if it seems reasonable to be able to use a smartgun, trodes, and have a smartlink that is not implanted or a vision enhancement work. Of course it will only get the non implant bonus, but it should still work. It just seems a gap that what I think might be a common configuration isn't available in the gear section.

[Lobo0705]

As I understand it, no you cannot.

In order to get the benefits of a smartgun system, you need to have a smartlink, and the only way to get a smartlink is to have it implanted or as a vision enhancement.

[Jack VII]

smartlink that is not implanted or a vision enhancement

When you say Vision Enhancement, are you only referring to implanted vision enhancement? Because you can certainly have a smartgun, trodes, and a pair of glasses with a smartlink installed in it.

[Lobo0705]

@Jack

I believe what he is trying to achieve is the ability to have a smartgun equipped weapon and trodes, and nothing else at all - no smartlink - whether that is implanted in his body or installed in a pair of glasses/goggles/helmet/whatever.

@DireRadiant

If that is not the case, let me know

But again - you need the smartlink.

[Jack VII]

Yeah, you have to have the smartlink. Even though you have the DNI, the smartlink hardware is what converts all of the environmental and telemetry data the smartgun has gathered and turns it into a targeting reticle in your field of vision.