Just as the topic says. Sensors CAN zoom, and since you use them to aim, can the zoom function be used as a scope?

They do zoom. It's the whole point of Vision Magnification.

That's how we play it, although I don't have a page reference handy. Every sensor component [as described on SR3, p135] works in combat terms just as its cyber counterparts would. Hence, flare compensation [which you get with Rating 5 sensors, or as an add-on] as a Sensor component works just like flare comp anywhere else. And hence, the zoom function of the sensors works like Vision Magnification, reducing target numbers at range.

Level 1 sensors have "telescopic magnification," but that's non-specific. We treat the Sensor level as the Vision Magnification level in cases where it's needed, or allow it to be upgraded on its own as per the rules in Rigger 3, p135.

It's a question of YMMV. I don't allow sensors to emulate scopes in my game, because I want the players to have to make the decision to have a scope or sensors.

What decision is that, though? You can't mount a scope on a drone.

Our interpretation has been likewise, though even if you forbid it the possibility to use Sensor-Enhanced Gunnery means that against most targets it's not too bad a penalty.

It should be noted that there's a very limited amount of sense that can be applied to the question, as combat scopes tend to be very low on actual magnification; I believe the scoped sight that's standard-mount on the Steyr AUG is all of 1.5x.

~J

That's what I was saying (though it reads weird now that I've slept). A scope is just a sensor. Vision Magnification does exactly the same thing it does, so any other sensor should be able to fulfill the role, too. Ruleswise they're just a Vision Sensor with an apparently unlimited capacity.

What you give up by not using a scope is the free capacity. It's like choosing glasses over goggles or contact lenses. You can get the actual job done any number of ways. Scopes are just another option.

They want to use the big weapons on sensors, they don't get the advantage of a scope. They want the scope advantage, they'll have to forgo the big sensor-enhanced weps. Like I said, to each GM their own.

So the decision you're actually suggesting is "use a drone" vs. "don't use a drone"? Or is that not it?

Doc: in principle I agree with you, but since we have disjoint stats (nx zoom vs. Rating m) it's not clear to me that basing a decision on the fact that they're the same thing is sound, since they work differently. Oh, Shadowrun, how I missed you.

This is mostly academic, though.

~J

No. What I'm saying is that in my world, sensor magnification does not grant scope benefits. Drone, cybereye, giant robot, whatever. If my players want scope benefits, they need to be using a scope