I have some questions about using vehicle-mounted weapons in SR4A:

1. "Characters can use the vehicle’s Sensor Attribute to help with Gunnery. They can do this by two means: passive targeting and active targeting" (SR4A, 171). This says that you "can" use, but it does not say that you "must" use. Does that mean that you can choose *not* to use passive targeting or active targeting, and therefore use the standard ranged attack rules? Specifically, can you choose to use your Agility instead of the vehicle's Sensor rating, and can you avoid the Signature modifier?

2. Does the Signature modifier apply to active targeting? Page 171 specifically states that you apply the Signature modifier for passive targeting, but does not mention the Signature modifier for active targeting. I do know that you apply the Signature modifier for the Sensor Test to lock onto the target.

3. "When a missile is fired against a vehicle, the vehicle’s Signature acts as a dice pool modifier to the attack" (SR4A, 156). This implies that when firing at anything except a vehicle, you do not apply the Signature modifier. Passive targeting specifically states, "The target’s Signature modifiers are also applied as a dice pool modifier" (SR4A, 171), which implies that the Signature modifier applies regardless of the target. Thus, if you are firing a vehicle-mounted missile, does the Signature modifier apply or not apply?

I have always allowed people to fire vehicle mounted weapons without targeting and I only apply the signature modifiers when they do. I also apply the mods if the vehicle is shooting the weapon via it's Pilot software. In other words, if the vehicle's Sensors have anything to do with the roll, then I use the signature modifiers. However, I never noticed the quotation that begins your #3 above, so I could be wrong.

For #3, I meant to ask, "Thus, if you are firing a vehicle-mounted missile, does the Signature modifier apply or not apply if you are firing at a non-vehicle, such as a metahuman?

In any event, thanks for the reply, Dashifen. Based on what you said, I'll do the following:

- You can choose not to use passive targeting or active targeting when firing a vehicle-mounted weapon.
- The signature modifier applies whenever you fire a missile at any target, whether from a vehicle or on foot. Since a missile relies on some form of sensors, be it from the vehicle or its own, it seems logical to apply the signature modifier at all times.

That answers my 1 and 3. However, I'm still unsure about 2. I'm kind of leaning toward the signature modifier not applying to active targeting outside of the Sensor Test to lock on to the target. Otherwise, you suffer or benefit from the modifier twice.