Can't think of anything else to do, so here goes...

Force 7 Stunbolt.

Spellcasting: 6 hits.
Drain DV (2): 2 hits.

Damage: 7 Stun + net hits.

D'oh, I missed the part about target not moving. Okay, so I'll simply shoot one of the drones with my last Simple Action. Short, wide burst: Agility 7 + Automatics 5 + Smartlink 2 - Long Range 2 = 3 hits. 6S(e) damage before net hits. All recoil absorbed. 12 rounds fired from this magazine.

--

And it was TW who warned about the drones, and it was over comms so Needle could hear it.

Thankfully this is a resistance test. So wound modifiers and such do not apply and he can use his full 6 Willpower to resist. With which he manages to get 3 hits. So no damage.
Regardless of his 6 Willpower, Jansen crumples to the ground unconscious. Your Drain Value was 6S (Force/2 - 1 + 3 net hits). So you do take 4 damage.

edit: sorry about misreading the drain resistance hits as the spellcasting hits

Stun damage never effects electronic equipment, vehicles, and drones, but it does have to resist the secondary effects of electric damage. Rolling Body + Armor, it gets 3 hits equaling your hits. So it is unaffected.

---------

Time to start the final Initiative Pass.

Gardner's Spirit does nothing because its orders were to defend the team and nobody is attacking the team.

Jansen makes it another 8 meters and is diving behind one of the sets of table and chairs to give him partial cover. He's already used up his Complex Action for this pass. So that's it from him (though now his defense modifiers are reset so he's only suffering the -2 from wounds and -2 from electric shock)

--------

Silas, Eclipse, and TundraWolf can post up their actions for pass 3. Actually so can Needle and Gardner. The guards inside the banquet don't have a third pass.

After all of you go, the drones will drop another 10 meters.

Are these things just free-falling, or are they deployed and descending with maneuverability?

I'm not sure that you can tell the difference at this range in the night sky. The rotors show signs of spinning, but even if they were just freefalling they'd likely have some movement due to wind. If the drone you shot at shifted off course in defense at all from your shot, it wasn't much.

You mean takes 10 damage. I got 6 hits on my spellcasting... which is his threshold to resist.

Oh wow, my mistake. I was reading your hits from the Damage resistance. Forget what I say, he crumples to a heap of unconsciousness.
Your Drain Value was 6S (Force/2 - 1 + 3 net hits). So you do take 4 damage.

Well, let's see about putting my Rigging skills to the test, shall we? Technically, I only need to have an active subscription to the node in order to jump in, and I am unable to find anything in the books that states what type of account I need. I'm going to assume at least a security account, which would increase the threshold by 3 (admin increases by 6). So, Hack on the Fly to create an account - GM's decision as to which type is needed for me to eventually "jump in" to the drone.

I'm targeting the drone closest to the glass doors. In the event they are equi-distant, it's the one closest to me.

Threshold is the drone's Firewall (+3 for security, +6 for admin). Node gets an opposed roll of Analyze + Firewall to detect my attempt at a threshold of my Stealth (which is 6).

Hacking 4 + Exploit 6 + Encephalon 1 + PuSHeD 1 + Neocortical Amplifiers 3 + Hot Sim 2 + Codeslinger 2 - Disorientation 2 = 17d6.

17d6.hits(5) = 9

I'm now out of passes this CT. Let me know if the account is created or if I'm going to have to try hacking again on my first IP next round.

I'll have to double check on the type of access you need tonight. Off hand I'm thinking Security access would be fine (in which case you will have gained access). I'll post up later on a definite ruling later tonight.

I thought + net hits Drain was an optional rule? Am I remembering incorrectly?

For direct combat spells its RAW, with an option to take it out. But I like spells having consequences.

Oh, okay. Must be a SR4a thing, I've only got an SR4 book.


edit: So we're at the top of IP3 now, right?

Honestly, it looks like all you need is a user level account to be able to jump into a drone. Seems like a pretty big hole, but i can't find anything to dispute that. So what level of access were you trying for exactly?

I'd like, at least, a security account. Admin would be best, but I'll take the security.

After reading through the different access accounts, would a security account be allowed to start turning stuff off on a drone? Like its weapons and engines and such? I ask because any skills I would need to pilot the thing being jumped in SUCK.

Well, you have to specify what access you are trying for when you attempt to hack your own account onto a system. That's not something you're supposed to specify after you've already rolled your dice pool. This time, i'll allow you to pick after you've rolled, but please keep that in mind in the future.

I would say security access could likely turn on the gun safety mechanism, give it an order to target something else, turn off software running on the node, but functionality like flight while it's sensors are saying it's in flight would be locked down to admin access I think. I take it you don't have the Command program that lets you control a drone as if you were playing a video game?

I've got Command, so that's not a big deal. I can always load it up if needed.

As far as the access level...I stated in my original post about not knowing which level of access was necessary to control a drone as I couldn't find it in the book. I also specified that it was your call which level I would need, and that I would be requesting that level of security dependent on your ruling:


I know I need to specify, but in this case I left it up to the GM to determine what level I'd need as the books are vague, stating that I'd request whatever level of security I'd need based on that ruling.

Just let me know what your ruling is on what level I'd need as that is the level I'm requesting. A hacker would know what level of security would be needed for a drone, and in this case I'd assume at the very least Security would be needed. If I need admin and I don't have the requisite number of hits, I'll use my first IP in the next CT to continue rolling for access.

It sure was, Silas didn't take time to look at what was coming from overhead and took his best guess. hence the dropped jaw at the thought of drones inbound




Free Action : over comms "Drones ?? dammit Needle can you crash the fraggers ?" continue movement towards the glass and hopefully there's an overhang that offers cover from above the balcony for a short while

Simple Action : swap pistol to off-hand and draw Vibro-sword from sheath.

Simple Action : Charge and slice the weakest piece of the door / window that I can
Window takes a Vibro-sword to the face mother-fracker
AP -2
reach 1
(15d6.hits(5)=7)

"Heeeeeere's JOHNNY !"


----------------------

Needle, the one time you really don't have to worry about piloting skills, is when it is Some-one Elses drones ...
if you pass you can shoot them at the enemy,
if you fail it's a crash test ? boo hoo

Like I said, everything points to saying a basic user access id can jump into a drone. You don't even need security access for that. So, did you just go with the lowest level you needed which wouldn't give you the ability to do much more than issue commands or jump in? Or were you going to get security access which would let you turn off guns and software, but not shut down the rotors? Or go all the way for full admin access that would let you do anything you want?

Yes, we are at the top of IP3 and you can post your actions for it.

Well, after reading through how jumping in works, there is no way Needle would feel comfortable enough trying to do that. Hell, she wouldn't attempt to jump in due to not having even basic drone piloting skills. This would mean she would only attempt to either gain Admin access so she could shut the thing down OR gain a security account so she could issue Commands.

Now, with her most recent experience of being dumped, plus the fact that she knows shutting the node down from the inside would dump her - coupled with the fact that she doesn't have Biofeedback Filter - she wouldn't need an Admin account. The security account would be what she would need.

Also, everything I am reading indicates that to use Command you just have to have an account that accepts your user access, so this could even mean that she just needs a normal user account.

BUT

I did explicitly state that I believed at the very least she'd need a security account (see my original post), so I'll stick with the security account as what she believes she would need to accomplish what she is hoping to pull off at this time.

Ouch!!!
So that's 15P -2AP damage, right? The glass door shatters beneath the blow of your vibro sword (it got 5 hits, but you still did more damage than it's Structure rating of .
Wait a melee attack is a Complex Action. You'd have to wait until your next Initiative Pass to make that attack on the door since you used a simple action to ready your sword. I'll let you keep the roll. It just won't actually happen until the beginning of the second Combat Turn.

Ok, you have Security access then. What are you doing with your third IP?

No worries,, and damn .. I'm learnign new stuff about SR4 all the time,

replace my second simple action with an off-hand shot at the Dragon guy then please, before I go all "shining" on the door


off-hand blind fire at dragon guy
moving -2
off hand -2
blind -6
(2d6.hits(5)=1)

"MWAH HAH HA"

You'd have to make a perception test to actually see the Dragon Guy. He dropped the physical mask spell and then cast improved invisibility. Currently on the balcony, you see two cowering waitstaff at the far end of the balcony, the unconscious and bleeding out his ears maitre d' about 10 meters from you, and your teammates. And you've been warned of two drones incoming, currently at around 70meters above you.
I really should read your entire post before replying. On his 3 reaction dice, Prax was able to get 2 hits. So, your bullet blasts a chunk off the expensive bartop, but you hear no screams of pain.

Speaking of the bartender, you said he went invisible? I got 4 hits on Willpower + Counterspelling to maybe see through it. Let me know if that means anything.

On Gardner's turn he will look around for more threats. Assuming it doesn't take an action to spot the drones, I will cast my Net spell at them. If it does take an action, then I'll have to wait.

That's also assuming others' actions before mine doesn't change anything...

Nope, he got 5 hits on his Spellcasting when he cast Improved Invis. So you don't see through it at all.
As far as the drones go, what's your Perception skill at these days (still waiting for you to send me your most up-to-date character sheet, but the copy i have shows you'd have to default with only 3 dice, -2 if you don't spend a Simple action to observe in detail). If you spend a Simple Action to specifically look for the drones you get +3 dice. Considering the glare from overhead lights shining down on the balcony, the darkness of the night sky, and the distance, it's going to be difficult for you to see them. You definitely would not see them with a glance which would have been a free action.

Hacking on the Fly to get the Security account was my 3rd IP. I'm out of actions until the next CT.

Oh ok. Lost track of all the posts. Sounds good.

Hmmmm..well, here's hoping I don't shoot the one you're in Severus.

Free Action: Eject Smartgun clip
Simple Action: Insert clip of regular ammo
Simple Action: Long, Narrow burst at drone closer to me. If they're equidistant, the one closer to the building, maybe if I wreck it I can get it to bounce off the building and into the other one. Agility 7 + Automatics 5 + Smartlink 2 - Long Range 2 = 7 hits. Booyah! 5P damage before net hits. All recoil absorbed. 6 rounds fired from this magazine.

That's kind of what I figured, it's why I didn't actually roll for my spell. (Also, sorry about the character sheet, it slipped my mind, I'll work on getting that to you tonight.)

Being the kind-hearted guy he is, Gardner will check the man's vitals quickly to make sure his spell didn't go overboard. [Simple Action: First Aid] (I have no idea what sort of 'ware or whatever sort of penalties I would have on this check, or even if it really matters. Let me know if you want me to roll for this, and at what penalty)

With no immediate threats visible on the balcony (and no way to see the magician), Gardner will look around [Simple Action: Observe in detail] and assess the situation.

He'll turn to the frightened wait staff and try to calm them down, "He's alright, just stay down, nobody needs to get hurt." [Free Action: speak short phrase]

Yeah, it can get a little confusing with all the posts. No worries!

Question, though. You don't need to be in a node to run Command on it so long as you have a connection/subscription to it. On page 235 it states that in order to hack a node you only need be in mutual signal range. Am I considered to be in the node of the drone then, or am I just viewing it in VR after hacking it to create the account?

Well....there is no question at all if that drone is freefalling now. Your bullets rip through it and there is now a firey ball of broken machinery plummetting towards the balcony.

And it couldn't be the drone Needle was hacking into, because her turn is after yours. So you've blown up this drone and she's hacked her way into the other drone on her pass.

-------------

I believe we are just waiting on actions for Eclipse and Gardner now to finish out the first Combat turn.

His essence is 0.6 First Aid is a Complex action, not a Simple Action. Because there is no fighting currently i'll only apply the -2 Poor environment modifier instead of the -3 combat environment modifier. Currently, he is halfway through his Physical boxes of damage because your stunbolt damage overflowed into physical.

The book says you don't have to be subscribed to a drone's node to issue a command to it. So yeah, you don't have to be on the node to issue commands. You can actually remote control a drone from AR too. Looks like all you needed was your account that you've already hacked.

Currently we are just waiting on actions from Eclipse for the final initiative pass. Then we can start back up at the top for a new Combat Turn.

do we keep initiative or re-roll btw ? ... not wanting to get ahead of myself though, just askin'

Well, that...and to load up Command. Which will be done shortly.

We keep the existing Initiative throughout a combat scene for simplicity.

Indeed.

That's both good and bad.

Good because it makes combat flow a little more smooth and we aren't waiting on people to roll.

Bad because some of us rolled zero hits on our initiative dice. It was like I was a dice ninja on that roll - the dice never saw me coming! Eeee-yah!

Although, I'd rather not have to roll for the coming round. 3d6+5 thanks to penalties. Yick!

Eclipse is going to continue to the door with nervous glances upwards at the incoming drones. That's really not fair.

"I thought it was just a bloody interview..."

Free action: Tell skinlinked gun to drop magazine
Simple action: Reload! The magazine goes into a pocket of his khakis... not because he plans on reusing it, but because of fingerprints.
Simple action: Draw comlink from other jacket pocket.

Next turn he'll start on his demolitions test to get these doors open.

Lol. Now I know that I'm getting addicted to how quickly everybody has been posting thus far. I have clicked refresh more than a few times and i just started looking at when O'Ryan typically posts. I clicked on his profile to see when he was last logged in and low and behold that very instant he was making a post to the game.

Anywho....there's a long series of glass doors. Any particular one you are going for? I have this funny image in my head of you kneeling in front of the glass door placing the first of your demo charge, then Silas smashing through it with his vibro-sword right in your face (going in the same initiative as you, he's smashing through a door too).

------------------

So, that's it for Combat Turn 1. Has it been exciting enough for everybody? Hope so.

Guess we are back up at the top of Initiative for the new round. Silas, Eclipse, and TundraWolf are a go.
Silas has already made his attack roll against the door and thorough smashed it.

Is Eclipse trying to set a charge on a different door? or changing his actions?

Ha! I missed that. D: Or rather, I distinctly remember reading that (The whole complex versus simple thing)... and somehow it didn't register.

If Silus is OK with it, you're right. Eclipse kneels down, is about ready to place his charge... and SHATTER! I get the feeling Silus doesn't like waiting when he doesn't have to.

Next turn, phone goes back into the pocket, Eclipse looks slightly embarrassed, and he'll be ready to put a round between anybody threatenings' eyes.

Yeah sorry, silas has Poor Self Control issues, ... But that sequence is highly amusing and high time for another. "Ooopsies"

I'm cool with that, and there are currently two security guards pointing their guns at the glass doors as they hide behind tables they knocked over for cover. There's another guard that you likely have a clear line of sight on that was getting all of the kitchen staff out. He's mouthing the words "Oh Shit" as he sees the doorway has been breached.

Too easy then! Bang!
8AGI + 1 Pistols + 2 Smartlink + 1 simple action take aim, -4 called shot for damage
8d6.hits(5)=3 (8P damage + hits, - AP)

Need to add in my free action

"Did somebodies order da strip-o-gram? Or is dis da wrongs room ?"

I'm assuming you are shooting at the one guard that is not behind cover.
He shifts his position as best he can, but it's not nearly enough. he takes a solid hit to his upper chest and is spun back as a spray of blood splashes the nearby wall. (he just took 7 boxes of physical damage-good job)

BTW O'Ryan I love the ongoing "I though this was just an interview" comments from Silas. It really shows just how messed up this Mission seems with you guys going to meet with the Johnson and suddenly being in a full on assault against a Megacorp's downtown/high-profile building.