Hi for my next character i'm going to be playing a drone rigger. This is the first time i'm playing this type of character and was wondering if you guys had any tips or strategies that would be useful. Character build advice would also be very useful.

First I'd have to say that you would have to decide on how you want to control your drones. Three ways, and there is a nice table in Unwired about the specific stats needed for each, is the "jumped-in", "Remote Controlled", and "Autonomous". Autonomous is good for if you are wanting to have secondary roles in the game such as an Electronic Warfare rigger, such as me (at least trying to be). Jumped -in riggers use your stats while a remote controlled rigger uses program rating more often than not. If you go autonomous you would want your drones to have max Response, as well as any other mode off operation, autosofts to die for, and a good pilot program. realize that while Jumped or RCed that your other drones will pop like grapes if armor and such things mentioned before in autonomous are not up to par. I'm a relatively new rigger myself and these are the things i have learned the hard way.

A few things I've distilled from the experience of creating a Rigger and discussions on Dumpshock. Alongside a little personal reflection.


Your only chance with Drones is to abuse economies of scale. No, I'm not pulling your leg, you are going to have to make use of the same tricks that the Corps use. To stay relevent. Most of your DPs are going to come off Software, which you will have pirated. The monthly cost is insignificant compared to the number of extra Drones you can buy when you're not sinking 7 000 to 8 000 on Autosofts and Tacsofts for each Drone.

Pick one of the following options; Wheeled, Aerial, Walker. This will be your speciality. Buy no Drones which are not your speciality, you'll get a few extra Drones when you don't have to purchase extra Autosofts. Same thing applies for weaponry, except your only choice is LMG. LMGs get belt feeds, see. You need belt feeds, because otherwise you have to reload. You cannot reload 10 Drones in any reasonable amount of time. You should aim to have 10 Drones, for that is a good number.

Unwired and Arsenal. You will buy them. Do not delude yourself into thinking that you can do well with the BBB equipment. Runner's Companion is good for the Restricted Gear quality. Augmentation gives you extra Matrix ware, and the ever-handy Attention Coprocessor (which counts for perception through Sensors). You need a lot of books to be a good Rigger.

You need the following skills: Pilot [Speciality], Computer, Hacking, Electronic Warfare, Gunnery. That's the minimum necessary skillset to actually be a Rigger. It's a skillset that is only smaller than a Mage's.

It is cheaper to cover the Street Sam's medical bills than replace one of your Drones. Unfortunate fact. Combat Drones cost 2000 to 3000, plus 1500 for the MG. You also pay 1000 to 2000 for sensor upgrades. It costs a month of Middle lifestyle to replace a Combat Drone. How much does it cost to fix up your Sam?

You will buy a Maneuver ([Speciality]) 4 Autosoft with Optimise 1 and Ergonomic, Pirated. You will buy a Targeting (Heavy Weapons) 4 Autosoft with Optimise 1, Pirated. You will buy a Clearsight 4 Autosoft with Optimise 1 and Ergonomic, Pirated. You will buy an ECCM 5 Program with Optimise 2 and Ergonomic, Pirated. There is no choice here. You should buy a Data Bomb 5 Program to match your System 5. You must also have Encrypt 5. You will have a Pirated Firewall 5.

Standardise. Standardise. Standardise. You will lose Drones, so it pays to have three for any particular purpose. If you can't accept spending three times the price of a single Drone for a particular task, then you shouldn't consider using a Drone to do it at all.


The essence of a Drone Rigger is abuse of the Action economy in every way possible. Anyone who gives you some other answer to the question "what is a Drone Rigger" does not know the true Drone Rigger.

Small note:
LMG's aren't covered by the automatics autosoft. You need a heavy weapons autosoft for them.

Gah! Edit time. I always make at least 1 mistake.

Question time!


LMG in small drones? And isn't a drone able to reload by itself? What about the differences between those the three skills? Any ideas about the pro's and con's? I'd personally stick to Aerial drones only, since they are more maneuverable, but i know that these guys have some issues with closed space, i guess?


Note: For extended Skills i suggest Hardware, Software and an appropriate Build/Repair Skill.


Wow, nothing to add here, but i really need some insight here since i don't get the Optimise option. This means the Maneuver, Targeting and Clearsight run with a rating of 5, the ECCM with a 7? Why not optimize and ergonomise the Encrypt too? And why exactly those numbers?


So, in the end you should go in and design a drone against personell, against armored targets and stuff?

And please: Define: Action Economy

Anyway, great work, it really itches me to generate my drone rigger concept now. But is it really this strict when it comes to playing a drone rigger? And what about developing the character with karma?

Nope they won't run at rating 5. They will run at rating 4 on a system 3 device. Again the same with ECCM it will run at rating 5 on a system 3 device. The reason that only some many of them have ergonomic is you can only run as many programs with it as the payload or processor limit. He does say encryp too and Data bomb. Those number becuse of the assumption of a rating 3 device.

Hope that helps.
Brent

Fix'd and thanks. Know i see where i got Optimization wrong

not a problem, with all the options one has availability it can easily throw you for a loop.

Action Economy = Getting the most done with each of your actions. Sorta like the single command (complex action) to make your 10 drones light up those slackers over there with full auto LMG fire. You'll also have to get really good at jumping from Drone to Drone to use the one that will take most advantage of your direct control. Focus on having the characters attention where it will do the most good or allow the most to be done.

Don't forget the More than Metahuman positive quality, which makes jumping into a drone a free action.

Slight disagreement on the skills. I think Hacking is not needed unless you are planning stealing other drones to use...but you should let your Hacker do that since that would split your focus. I would take Armorer and Mechanic related to your Speciality before I would take Hacking and Electronic Warfare. You'll also need Hardware as well, it will half the upgrade money costs for Reponse and signal. So I recommend the follow skills:

Pilot [Speciality], Computer, Mechanic [Speciality] , Hardware, Gunnery, Armor

Optionally I would take the Electronic Skill group since Data Search and Software is needed to find pirated software and make your own.

This would be the base skill set for a Gun Drone rigger. This allows for cheaper upgrades as you would do it yourself and all the skills needed to run a drone in combat.

Programing your own will help lower upkeep costs as you can make Firewall 6 once and copy it for all your drones and it will not degrade (per unwired Errata). Then you can focus on Ecyrpt and other needed programs.

You can get Electronic Warfare and Hacking is not really needed if you are just a gun drone rigger. Those are for doing fancy snooping and taking over other drones.

I'd also recommend Infiltration and Perception be added to that list, since surveillance is often an important part of what drone hackers are called on to do.

Combat Drones are almost always Medium or Larger. That makes the picture slightly less ridiculous. Weapon mounts can take LMGs.

Drones aren't able to reload by themselves unless they have arms of some description, and a supply of mags. Unless your weapon is belt fed it uses the standard magazine size, as well. That's rarely enough for more than a single combat.

Aerial Drones are generally weedier than their groundborne compatriots, and they should end up quite difficult to maneuver in enclosed spaces. At the very least rotodrones should be loud and messy inside an office. One of the best things about specialising in Aerial Drones is the Dragonfly. It's an excellent platform for doing interesting things.

Groundborne Drones can take Gecko Tips to allow them to go most of the same places as Aerial Drones. They're generally meatier than Aerial Drones. Wheeled Groundborne Drones are probably slightly faster than Anthroform. Anthroforms should be able to jump, though. Ground Drones include the rather flexible Ferret and the Dalmation. Steel Lynxes are big, and shouldn't be taken into offices, and the Dalmation has a turret instead of a fixed mount.



Yup. Personnel and Vehicles are the two major targets for combat Drones. You can also branch out into all kinds of areas that you didn't expect.



The Action Economy is the interaction between the budget of Actions you get every combat turn, and the effects you can achieve using that budget. Riggers have a large budget of meatspace actions but their effects are smaller than the Sam for most of those Actions. Thankfully Actions can synergise.

If it's worth shooting once, it's worth shooting three times. The extra attacks will shrink their defense DP and the target either gets hit, or interrupt full defenses, leaving them helpless for their next Action Phase.



You are right about Hacking. I tend to throw it in as a DID measure. It helps alleviate the Action demands on your Hacker if you can do the parts of their job that you care about. Running backup for your Hacker also helps the team succeed if it's important.

Armorer, Software, Hardware and Mechanic are all good skills, but I was aiming for the bare minimum skillset necessary to cover the bases of being a Rigger. They also have their uses during the 'run. However, you cannot write Software in any reasonable number of sessions. The time scales just do not work that well. You spend years writing your own System or Firewall.

However, using Software to maintain your Programs is a perfectly fine intent.

Ach! Double posted.

I´d put a full Cracking group in before I increase the ratings of either electronic warfare or matrix combat. If you want a pure rigger, you can replace the full group with unlimited agents and autosofts.

The Electronics group is what is needed. You can make your own response chips with Hardware, script your agents and pilots with Software, watch over your node with Computers, and being able to do your own matrix legwork with Data Search is a freebie on top. Add a hardware shop, you will see a great return on that investment.

Perception and Dodge are your main skills. You take a small aerial drone with solid sensors as your "command drone", and aquire targets with active targeting. You relay the information into a tactical network. All other members of the net can use the data for indirect target aquisition as per Arsenal. The trick even works without tacnet, but why stop once you are started? You need dodge for full defense, as you won´t have much armor.

Floating LMGs are tempting. My weapon of choice is the assault rifle with underbarrel grenade launcher. You´ll need two autosofts, but grenade cover is worth it, for smoke screens alone. Fleeing runners can concentrate on full defense if all other defensive activities are taken care of. The drone is more expensive to repair, but easier to replace.

Get a Commlink with good Signal, Firewall, and System (and Response for that matter, just get a really good all around Commlink). Stealth, Encrypt, and Command are your "big" programs that you want as high as you possibly can. Operate your drones either by giving them orders to follow Autonomously, or in Remote Control mode, which is where you control them directly without actually "jumping in" to any one of them. In Remote Control mode you use your skills, but sub your Command program for all attributes. If your GM allows it (and there's no reason he/she shouldn't) take the Code Slinger Quality for the Control a Device action. When operating a Drone in Remote Control mode, every action is considered a Control a Device Matrix Action. Also, if you run Hot Sim in full VR you'll get the +2 bonus for all of those drone actions as well (you can still be in a "captain's chair" mode in full VR) in addition to your +2 from Codeslinger for a total of +4 to all actions where you directly control a drone.

Slave all of your drones to your Commlink, even if they're acting autonomously. This will force any intruding Hacker to hack your Commlink first. Encrypt the connections to the drones with the best Encrypt program that you can get.

Finally, buy the best Agent that you can and load it up with Analyze, Armor, and Attack or Black Hammer (depending on how lethal you want to be). Set the Agent to constantly scan your Commlink for signs of intrusion. If the Agent spots someone in the process of Decrypting your signals, you can order the Agent to initiate Dynamic (re)Encryption (Unwired p.66) to try and slow down the intruder. Buy a separate but good Analyze program for you Commlink and have that constantly scan for intruders as well. A good Biofeedback Filter, Armor, and Attack program for yourself wouldn't be a bad idea. You'll need ECCM too but not at a super-high rating if your Commlink has a good Signal rating (ECCM 3 should be enough if you have Signal 5 or better).

From there your Drone loadout is all about what you actually want to be doing with it. There are drones that are good for stealth and drones that are good for combat. Load up those attack drones with an LMG with EX-EX rounds, lock on sensors, and start Full Auto bursting your problems away.

2 things.

1) heath, dalmation is a vectored thrust drone (flying) not a ground drone. i assume this was meant to be a doberman.

2) malachi, you forgot the specialisation in your pilot skill: remote operation. if you are going to operate your drones using the command program, then you definitely want remote operation as your specialisation, because it always applies. also, i didn't notice anyone specifying, but gunnery(ballistic) is also a ridiculously good specialisation to take. also, i agree with the heavy weapons focus for drones... not only is the LMG an excellent choice, but it also opens up the possibility of grenade launchers, missiles, etc. possibly in an underbarrel mount, even.

oh, and all the support skills could probably be picked up in skillsoft form (makes you more versatile too) or if you're *really* lazy, in autosoft form (technical skills include the electronics and cracking groups, and any mechanic type skills you may need; arsenal has plenty of robots with arms that you could use for this purpose, and cracked autosofts are going to be far cheaper in BP than buying the actual skills. cheaper than skillsofts too, even. )

Data bomb is your friend.

Especially now in SR4A. Yeow!

What changed?

Curses. Doberman it is. Knew it shared a name with a breed of dog. Can never remember Dobermans either.

That's a good example of the kind of thing that you'd see as a typo equivalent in 2070.

Data Bombs now do Rating x (1d6) Matrix damage when they go off. Makes my dronomancer's R:5 Data Bomb complex form pretty nasty, now. If a 2 or more is rolled on that, that'll pop most icons instantly. The change makes even a R:2 Data Bomb scary if it rolls on the upper end.

These suck for a technomancer if a TM is the one setting it off.

One thing to be careful about, Gunnery (Ballistic) specialization refers to kinetic type weapons (EG: MG's, cannons, railguns). Artillery goes to things like mortars and GL's (high arc lobbed explosives). The rest are pretty self-explanatory.


Actually, there is a reasonable way to make use of smaller weapons on smaller drones and get around the low ammo capacities in a lot of guns.

Dual Feed mod (x2 cost), and the extended mag drum (1000).
2x 100rd ammo drums on a SMG or machine pistol. (nice because it also allows you to load up 2 different types of ammo at the same time, and the difference between a 250rd belt, and a 2 100rd drums isn't all that big).

Something like the Supermach 100 w/ a dual feed still comes in under 2000 for 120 rds in a small compact weapon which most GM's won't complain too much about on a small drone (only 4P/0 in a SMG size, but it does also over enhanced rate of fire. HVAR is nice because firing a drone is a complex action... so firing a full burst, and being able to attack 1-4 targets by splitting the attack pool up into long and short bursts is usefull.

Also remember, just because you fit a LMG, you can manage to get 2 weapons for one mount. Underbarrel weapon mod. Take the LMG then attach an underbarrel grenade launcher. (and if you really want to twink it out, put a target designator on the top weapon rail).

Mmmmm. A couple of disguised mortars and a 'Manservant' to reload them hidden 5 klicks from the target.

There's no better bang for your buck.

edit

To weigh in on the LMG thing, I'm kinda partial to a Silenced Desert Strike packing AV. A Called Shot for DV is good enough to wipe anything that doesn't have Smart Armour, you can do it from twice the range, you're going to end up spending much less on ammo and even if by some miracle the opposition can locate the source of the incoming fire it's gonna be hella difficult to put a stop to compared to a Steel Lynx on the other side of the street.

crizh,
You're overlooking the normal stomping grounds of 'runners; inside a building. Sure, the Desert Strike is wonderful when you've got range to be untouchable by return fire. Try that when the longest range you can possibly be is less than 100m.

I'm taking my secondary school as an extreme case for an office, because it's not ever been an office. Corridors ran for 70m at maximum before they turned. I know this, because the 100m track ran parallel to the corridors in question. This school had a rather reasonable campus in the midst of a city - it had room for greenery. Most offices are smaller and tighter. I know that the US has larger office buildings than us Limeys, but I doubt a block is ever larger than this school. It consumed the top of a reasonably large hill.

A long range combat is all about vision, range, and accuracy - you sight in and pick people off. Close quarters battle is where rapid fire really benefits you the most. You can see enough targets that you will use those extra rounds in your RoF.

Yes, the Rigger is better at the open air combat than most. However, most 'runners fight in "closet troll" conditions, and Riggers have to deal with that because you go where the team goes, or you play a different character who can. This is also why Aerial Drones are much less useful than Groundborne Drones for combat roles.

another place riggers have to fight from is the open road (or not so open road for that matter). which is where those roto drones come in more handy than that doberman

For a non-hacking rigger specializing in captain's chair: Adept, cybered, or cyber adept?

And should he be in with the team, or trying to keep a strong signal from a getaway vehicle (The main problem here as I see it is security tracing the origin of said super-strong signal and blowing up your van)?

if you're going for a captain's chair rigger (and by extension, get no benefit from the control rig and the nanites that enhance it) i would recommend a cyber-adept, or perhaps a pure adept, provided it fits your concept. you can pick up improved ability in vehicle skills for quite cheap, and remember that gunnery is a vehicle skill, not a combat skill

the suggestion for a cyber-adept is just to allow you to round yourself out a little bit more.

as far as the choice between the van and being with the team, i would say that you should generally try to be able to do both. ideally, you will have a PMV that can help you stay with the team *and* be inside a vehicle, but even that is obviously not always an option.

I agree the Sniper Rifle is less than ideal for close quarters work. I think I might tend to favour a GL for that sort of work. I like Gas/Splash grenades, reduced collateral damage and effective throughout their burst radius. An MGL-12 with Additional Clip, Ammo skip system and a Hundred round Drum if the GM allows it.

The Sniper Rifle is definitely for outdoors. I like to keep a GTA Tower on Overwatch. With Chameleon Coating and Signal Masking it's nearly impossible to spot, at an altitude of 1550m it's hard to hit if you can spot it and it'll keep up with most ground vehicles.

Are you in the UK? Where at mate?

Laser Links are your friend.

A drone with a Sat Uplink on a nearby rooftop and a couple of Laser Links and you're golden.