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[SirKalamon]

Drones that are controlled by a rigger directly receive the bonus initiative from the VCR, but what about other drones? When a rigger is in the captains chair mode what is the initiative of the drones?

[fistandantilus4....]

ummmm.... crappy?!

[Capt. Dave]

Drones with robotic pilot recieve an Initiative of (Pilot x 2) + 1d6, which can be raised to +4d6 with Robotic Reflexes. (pg. 44, R3)

Edit: Damn...that took a whole minute. My bookninja-fu must be weak today...

[Capt. Dave]

And they can double post.

This post has been edited by Capt. Dave: Mar 6 2005, 05:02 AM

[SirKalamon]

what about drones that are not robots?Or are all drones have that base initiative when not directly controlled by a rigger?I'm just a little confused on how to resolve initiative when a rigger has several drones under a subscriber list and how to handle when the rigger is in captains chair mode or is directly controlling a drone.

[Capt. Dave]

The wording of the description of drone initiative suggests that only robots (drones with robotic pilot) can generate their own initiative.

When controlling a single drone directly ("jumping into" a drone),
Use the rigger's Init and all applicable pools/skills.

When in captain's chair mode, you still get the rigger's initiative,
but no control/combat pool may be used and all tests are rolled with the drone's pilot rating as the skill rating.

[fistandantilus4....]

Plus any auto softs (like sharp shooter)



See! I know some rigging stuff!

[Capt. Dave]

Well, while you're at it, don't forget BattleTac IVIS,
and if it's a robot, Adaptation Pool.

[fistandantilus4....]

w/ small unti tactics

[fistandantilus4....]

can add to combat/control pool, or initiative


definitely a must have for a drone rigger.
Along wit han encephalon and or tac comp

[SirKalamon]

ahhh thanks alot i was a bit confused as to how many times a drone acts if its not directly controlled by a rigger.Also if a rigger is directly controlling one particular drone, do the others drones act during his initiative phase but continue to perform the last command the rigger ordered with a +2 modifier?

[Capt. Dave]

Yes, non-robotic drones act simultaneously with the controlling rigger.
The +2 is only for the comprehension test made by the drone. It takes a complex action to command a secondary drone, or to give that exact same command to a group of drones.

[fistandantilus4....]

IF they aren't given a command, they continue doing what they're doing, even of that's bumping into a wall. Unless it's a robot of course.
Also, I believe drones can be pre-programmed w/ back up commands (just one though) if they lose contact w/ their "captain". Like "shoot everything", or "go home", etc.

[mfb]

SR3 page 157, last paragraph, addresses drone initiative. there are no specific rules for giving a drone a pre-programmed command that activates if the drone is cut off from communication with the rigger, but neither is that type of thing precluded.

[Tarantula]

Preprogrammed drone commands are covered on pg84 R3R.

Also, drones can roll a comprehension test for their last order to see if they can interpret it in a way favorable to the rigger. Though, I've seen it happen before where the rigger ordered a drone to kill anything attacking his body, and a teamate slapped the rigger to try to wake him up... drone failed the comprehension test and didn't see it as an attack. So it really can vary sometimes.