Let me ask my question in a different way then.

In the physical world you can get 4 IPs with a expensive piece of cyberware.

In the astral world you can get 4 IPs with a very good roll with a spell

In the VR world how can a Hacker get 4 IPs? (5 if you use the Simsense Accelerator from Unwired)

Running Hotsim gets you to 3IPs, straight off the bat. I don't recall where the 4th IP comes from, but I'm pretty sure it's a piece of tech in the BBB.

IIRC : NOTHING gives you 5IPs. The limit anyone can take is 4.

Usually, yes. Unless on the matrix:

Technomancers can get to 5 matrix IPs via Advanced Overclocking (advanced echo).

Everyone else can do that by combining a hot-SIMmodule with a Simsense Booster implant and the Simsense Accelerator commlink modification.

Ahh... thank that was what I was looking for. So from just the core rule book Hackers in Hot-sim can only get 3. It takes the Augmentation book to get the fourth one (from the Simsense Booster) and Unwired to get the exception to the 4 pass limit for 5 with the Simsense Accelerator. Good to know

Ok I am still really fuzzy on remotely commanding drones. I know that it is a simple action to command. But

Can I command more than one drone to shoot with one simple action? If so what do I roll.

What if I have them subscribed to my commlink but want them to just follow orders and attack opponents? What do I roll to make them do it and when they shoot?


Honestly there is a lot that I don't understand and I feel like I need some sort of guide to fix that. Is there anywhere you can point me? I like to understand in depth how things work.

Clueless in Seattle.

No roll, you issue a group command to attack the targets as an action.



Pilot+Targeting autosoft.



Best advice, when reading the rules try and have some dice handy. Refer to the archetypes in the books for PCs and roll (or do a 3 for 1 exhange if you don't have dice) play a scenerio out that would expose the questions you have.


Nah, the only stupid question is the one asked twice. Man the press is stupid.

Heh, at the risk of seeming like asking twice

Say I use a simple action to tell all 8 drones to attack 1 target. Do I roll Command + Gunnery 8 times to hit and it is still that one simple action? Please explain how many actions I'd use to shoot as many times as possible with Command + Gunnery in hot VR.

Just with that original simple action to command them could they move to better positions too? I know I am asking really detail questions but I've read it over a bunch of times and still don't grasp it.

Thanks,

Giving a single command to a group of drones is a simple action, if you want to give each it's own orders you require a simple action for each drone or group of drones receiving a different command. To attack on their own they then roll Pilot+Targeting Autosoft, with 3 IPs and an Initiative of Pilot+Response. Keep in mind, this is for when you're commanding drones, not when jumped in. If you're jumped in, the ONE drone you control uses your VR Initiative and IPs. So you can have up to 5 VR IPs, allowing you to command 5 drones to do different things, or 5 groups of drones (if you can subscribe that many).

Probably your confusion lies in what a drone is. They are essentially robots with limited funtionality. Consider them your personal army that will follow its orders to the best of its ability.

Since we're chatting about a similar topic already, I'll throw out some questions I have about drones and sprites.

Say you compile a Machine Sprite and tell it to hop into a drone and control it. How is the drone considered to be acting: Autonomously, Remote-Piloted, or Jumped-in? I don't think it's the last one because sprites cannot "jump in" like metahumans can. Remote Piloting is an option, especially since they have Command, but then they also don't get any Vehicle skills like Pilot Ground Craft or Gunnery to really use with their Command. The only option I can see where a Machine Sprite has all it needs to do its job is to let the drone act Autonomously and use its optional autosofts to bolster what the drone otherwise lacks in. I just can't help but think that while Machine Sprites are supposed to be good with drones and vehicles, that they lack many fundamental skills needed in order to do so effectively without LOTS of defaulting.

There are two basic options:
- The Command CF, used in combination with Autosoft CF´s. It is not said explicitly, but Autosofts are much like Activesofts for drones. You get terribly few Autosofts for this trick, but it can be done. High Charisma for loads of specialised machine sprites (different CFs) is recommended.
- Supporting the regular Autopilot with Diagnostics. No specialisation of sprites, any sprite rating can play.

There isn´t an option to mix control of a drone. You do not wish to see the effects of one drone using three Autopilot IPs and five rigger IPs. The regular autopilot can´t benefit from a CF anyway.

Using Command is part of remote control rigging and can only be used on one drone at a time. You can give orders to 8 drones at once (which they will then go and perform using their Pilot rating and Autosofts), but you can't remote control that many.

You don't make any roll to just give orders, though.

But you can use the command action to shoot the weapon of a drone while in command remote control mode. But the details of it I want to clarify. Jumped in and autonomous modes I think I've figured out though. It is remote control that confuses me.

So commanding them to move to specific tactical spots is one simple action. I get that.

In order for me to use the command skill to fire one of my drone's weapon's would I need to hold my actions to wait till they got into a position to fire?

It says that firing a vehicle/drone weapon is a complex action. Does this mean that I cannot command shoot a long burst and short burst as two simple actions?

Also it says that drones can go on their own initiative, pilot + response, if in autonomous mode. So I command them to move then they move on their initiative, right?
Now what if I want to fire a weapon from a drone but the drone has a higher initiative than me?

If I am going to remote control a drone just a little does it go on my initiative? Do I have to decide this at the beginning of the combat round?


I'll do a mock combat to help. I assume that drones are constantly waiting for me to give a command so in the first turn of combat they would go on my initiative after I give the command?
Initiative Pass 1 (I have 3 IP)
1. I spend a simple action to command and they move into firing positions. They move on my initiative because they were holding action for a command to be given. During my initiative pass they move to the designated positions. Now can they fire a long and short burst right then or is there more to it? Anyways they fire I think.

2. I want to use remote control to fire one of the drone's weapons, but I guess I can't because that takes a complex action?


Initiative Pass 2
1. This pass I want to use gunnery to fire the weapon of a drone. Can I fire the weapon in addition to the drone firing the weapon this pass?

2. I want to fire the weapon of a drone. I guess I use a complex action. But I am not sure whether that lets me fire a long and short burst, or just one burst?

3. The rest of the drones act autonomously and fire thier weapons.


Initiative Pass 3
1. I get a 9 and they get a 12 to act. They act and likely fire because they go first. But then it gets to my turn and I issue a new command for them to move and engage different targets. I think they don't follow my action until thier action comes back around.

2. They move and shoot, but I also want to shoot a weapon remotely. Does that mean that one drone loses it's action so that I can fire, or can we do both. Does the drone need to hold fire until my pass so that I can fire?


There is probly more questions, but I'm trying to understand. I really am. I don't want to be a pest but it doesn't seem clear to me.

Thanks,
Graushwein

I will sidestep, and you will have to repost the remaining questions. There are too many directions to do all at once.

"Using Command is much like jumping in. It just uses different mechanics."

I'll repost in a seperate thread.