I'm wondering if anyone had a few theories as to why enhanced articulation was limited to only physical skills with a physical attribute link, and not combat skills? It seems as if a system designed to make the user more coordinated would help with melee combat just as much as it helps climbing or running. Smoother movements are also more useful for ranged combat, albeit to a lesser degree.

It just seems odd to me, particularly given the price.

[EDIT] Topic title SHOULD be "Why IS Enhanced Articulation limited?". Brain fart. [/EDIT]

Aren't most combat skills also physical skills (I say most because I can't think of one off the bat that isn't, but I allow for the possibility)? And as they are linked to physical attributes, doesn't EA affect them? I read it as being so.

I can definitely see the game-balance reason for it. It used to be a "must have" item when it implied you got a bonus to all combat skills.

Beats me as to why it doesn't help in combat from an anatomical standpoint.

I was under the impression that "physical" skills are totally separate from "combat" skills, and that the two don't overlap.

same reason why infirm doesn't affect combat skills.
Balance vs. Cost vs. playability

It's a balance issue. Every combat character took Enhanced Articulation in SR3. So now it only applies to Physical skills (notice the capital P, so no, that doesn't include Combat skills).

Calypso

From a game balance perspective the cost is also pretty good, compared to reflex recorders.

But that's just stupid. Combat skills (at least close combat) rely on your body. Why not make enhanced articulation more expensive? Increase the essence cost and the price and you'll still have game balance.

An easy way to balance it would have been just to drop the +1 Reaction it gives you in SR3 (which they did), and keep the rest the same.

The loss of the Combat Skill Bonus is relaxing, though.

Looked it up, and your right, it doesn't apply to any combat skills at all.

In fact, it costs 8 BP (40k) to get a +1 dice to 9 skills, of which I usually see a use for 6: the Athletics skill group plus Infiltration and Palming from the Stealth skill group (the others it boosts are Diving, Escape Artist, and Parachuting). So it's roughly a 18 BP value for a lot of folks, which is a good deal but not broken in a huge way, IMHO.

It seems that the Reflex Recorders are now basically the Combat Skill equiivalent of Enhanced Articulation, and only have to be purchased seperately purely for game balance reasons, which includes of course, the fact that now they can't stack.

Now if only the Cerebral Booster could help with Hacking (or Logic in general could help with Hacking; I'm not picky )

*snicker* Well, let's face it - EA was no different than a smartlink for close-combat gun types.

Edit: As to the same 'ware combinations - considering the relatively limited selection of 'ware options, it stands to reason that combat types would tend to gravitate to similar combinations as being the most functional for the mission specialty.

-Siege

If fact, EA was quite different - it gave a bonus to nearly all major Active Skills.

I was referring to the overwhelming usefulness of each ware and its corresponding appearance.

Yes, EA was pretty slick and therefore lots of people, including adepts, took it.

Smartlinks in 1, 2 and 3 were downright nasty - which is why anyone with a gun took it.



-Siege

Heck, they're still worth taking for the most part.