I know. What I meant when talking about ambidexterity before was that it would make alot of sense that you were aiming slower because not only are you 'splitting your die pool' so to speak, you also would have had an extra -2 on your off hand.

Since what you said was basically "I aimed a single laser in 1 second, but two lasers took me 4-5 seconds" I was trying to say "Well yes, it took you longer because not only are you at half your skill, you have an added penalty for using your off hand." Which is why I keep reitterating that your experiment shows that it takes you longer to aim two 'guns' than one, but it doesn't show if aiming two 'guns' with lasers is the same speed or not as aiming two 'guns' without lasers.

Maybe do this: Give yourself about 5 seconds to aim with both laser pointers off, then hit the button and see how accurate you are. Then try to aim for your target with both pointers on, and see if you are any more accurate with the pointers on after five seconds than with them off. If so then obviously the 'laser sights' helped you aim. Now granted 5 seconds is a long time in the SR universe, but you aren't a superhuman cyborg or adept (I'm reasonably sure). I suppose you could try lowering it down to 3 seconds to simulate a combat turn with, quite obviously, no additional IPs on your part.

Sure, I can do that. I'll even try it by aiming solely with my left hand (I'm natively right-handed).

Results:

Right hand after a count of three: Fairly accurate. I was less than half a foot off target to the top left of it.
Left hand after a count of three: A little less accurate. About three-quarters of a foot off (deviated to the right too much).
Both hands after a count of three: One was almost dead-on (my left one oddly enough) but the other was waaay off. A good two-and-a-half feet to the right.

That was aiming with them both off at first. With them both on, the results were:

Right hand after a three-count: Dead on way before I got to three.
Left hand after a three-count: Dead on, but it took a tiny bit longer to get it there.
Both hands: Was pretty close with the left hand but kept overcompensating with my right hand, which kept throwing my left one off as I tried to correct and vice-versa.

Woo! Data! But as a scientist I have to say I find the lack of repetition sad

I'd have especially liked a few extra trials with both hands, both with and without lasers.

Edit: I'd like this because it is highly possible that the dead on was a fluke, and a few extra tries with the lasers might help you get used to it. And if it doesn't, then it seems to support the idea that the lasers with both hands don't help much, or at least not nearly as much as they do when using only a single hand and laser.

P.S. Any idea where I could pick up a halfway decent laser without spending much and about how much one would cost?

It's like watching an episode of Mythbusters here.

I love that show Such a great comparison

It is basically the same principle, which is that of basic experimentation. Which is the basis for truth^tm in this world.

No idea. These things are at least a decade old. They didn't cost too much though. I'm pretty sure I got them at an office supply store.

I wonder how many office supply stores are open at 10pm... likely none.. and I likely don't really feel like driving to one right now anyway.

Tune in next week (tomorrow) when we find out the results of the 'guy on dumpshock using laser pointers to simulate guns with laser sights' experiment. And also look forward to explosions. Because here at MythBreakers, we make sure -something- explodes for -some- reasons.

1) Still looks entirely legal on External smartlinks, as they dont use modification rules.

2) If it is still an issue, a Pilot Upgrade mod costs no slots, and makes it count as a drone, which IS eligible for inclusion in the tacnet.

But, seriously, if you can run Command on your Smartlink - unwired makes a comment about cybersammies keeping a handy copy in case they need to route it through a comm, which is a comp+command(1) test - then you can run software on a smartgun.

And yes, it is kind of silly. But still possible within the rules.


Edit: Haha, wow, pilot upgrade turn a pistols a minidrones, which gives it sensor capacity to fill with all sorts of things that don't belong on guns, like atmospheric sensors or ultrawideband radar.

Karoline

When you do your experiment, remember that you have to vary the target placement; otherwise your muscle memory will take over and you will get false data (which might be a plausible explanation for the "dead on" with Dr. Funkenstine). I wish I had a good range near me so I could try a few tests and get some repeatable data...

I kept switching positions with each of my tests, though the target remained the same.

To all who replied, thanks much! I see now that I err'd in not noticing that the two shots fired while weilding two weapons were counted as a SINGLE simple action. Thats what threw me. I was considering each one separately. Now it all makes sense!