[theDregs]

 I am very new to fifth, so I don't know the rules too well. I was thinking of designing a character who never left his home for some reason, either physical or mental health most likely, or maybe something like house arrest. Anyway, I was wondering if such a character would be a viable party member via drones and/or decking? Could it be done?

[Elektrycerze3]

Technically it's possible.

There are lots of ways a dedicated rigger/decker can help his group remotely. But there are some difficulties.

For example, both archetypes face Noise. At some table you might simply get you character 10+ datajacks and essentially ignore noise. You can also circumvent the Noise problem somewhat by establishing a direct connection through hosts, but that doesn't work in every situation.

Deckers might be impaired without being able to use a cable to set up a direct connection. That is a problem, although you might build your character around that. Technomancers at many tables can't do it anyway, but they manage to hack somehow =))

Your biggest problem is that on some runs your character will be needed on site. For example, some Hosts allow access only from specified locations. Your GM might work with you on that, but you can't safely bet on that.

So yeah, technically it's possible, although there are serious problems involved.

But please do consider this: SR5 Matrix was in part developed the way it is to make deckers go on the run with the rest of the group. You can make a character who always works remotely, but be advised that the system itself will oppose this. Some GMs will oppose it.

I strongly advise against trying to stay remote 100% of the time. Maybe you could try making it a preferred method of operation, but be ready to get out there under the rain.

P.S.
I'm not sure "invalid" is a nice choise of words... You meant people with disabilities, right?

[theDregs]

I had no idea that invalid was a non PC word. Really? Nah, I wasn't using it in a mean way. I refuse to switch it to "Differently Abled" or some such crap.

But thanks very much for the write up! It gives me a starting pointto do some delving into this morass of rules we call SR5

[Elektrycerze3]

: - |

You are welcome.

[martinchaen]

theDregs

Take a look at this character for an example of a character who has virtually no physical presence in the game except for being in his car.

As Electrycerze3 points out, it's possible to make such characters but please be aware of the limitations you are imposing on yourself. Take Moto, for example; if his vehicle ever gets shot up and he has to leg it, or if he has to follow the team somewhere on foot, he's absolutely well and truly hosed. He's got virtually no physical stats, and very few skills that aren't matrix or rigger based. He's an EXCELLENT wheelman and drone rigger, rolling in excess of 20 dice with Gunnery (using Sensor based targeting), and the Rating 3 Vehicle Control Rig is an absolute monster in terms of allowing him to do some crazy stuff with drones, but that is ALL he can do. Without his vehicle and drones, he's essentially just a paperweight.

So, to recap; yes, it's possible, but you're exposing yourself to some serious liability, which may or may not be fun. I'm still trying to figure it out; check out this thread for what Moto has been up to so far

PS:
Invalid simply means "a person made weak or disabled by illness or injury"; it's not necessarily a derogatory term.

[theDregs]

theDregs

Take a look at this character for an example of a character who has virtually no physical presence in the game except for being in his car.

Is this the right guy? This appears to be a Martial Arts Blademaster Adept.

[martinchaen]

Whoops, my bad
http://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=15964.0

[firebug]

Riggers in 5th edition are definitely more able to be "off-site" than deckers now.  They even have an easier time with noise.  It makes sense to some extent; no rigger is going to be up close to all their drones, especially if they're making any attempt at scouting or recon.

However, while the archetype and concept is 100% valid in this edition, the issue is the lack of material written for riggers currently.  There's no combat modifications for vehicles or drones beyond obvious-and-illegal unconcealed weapon mounts.  Combined with the general fragility of most drones (even heavy duty ones like the Steel Lynx) it can be difficult to make use of them in combat.

However, if you avoid combat and focus primarily on intelligence, scouting, and similar things you will have little problem.  If you really want some weapon drones (who doesn't?) using "support" options like sniper rifles or grenade launchers full of stun or smoke grenades works comfortably.  Neither require necessarily being right in the thick of things.

[Elektrycerze3]

"Fragility" is a huge understatement here: these things drop like flies as if every corp except Winter Systems with their Lynx relocated their drone-factories to eastern Europe and hired drunk blind monkeys as quality control specialists.

If you want to have sturdy combat drones buy some Dodge Scoots for that if your GM lets that fly. Or wait for the Rigger book.

[martinchaen]

To add on to what firebug is saying; sniper drones really shine in SR5. Most enemies will be facing heavy penalties at best or be completely out of range if you engage them with drones armed with sniper rifles from 351m or more away from the target. Since Active Targeting (p184, SR5) is a simple action, and firing a drone weapon is a complex action, you can use Active Targeting to fire the weapon with Logic instead of Agility (meaning one less stat to care about) and then use the Take Aim action to reduce range penalites. At 551 meters or more your drone is out of range of assault rifles, and can fire with impunity at the enemy, though it may take you 2 Initiative Passes to do so. Alternatively, you can take the -3 to hit and use Passive Sensor targeting for an additional -3, and fire each IP from 551m out with a total -6 (or more) modifier. Moto has 24 dice on attack when jumped in, so the -6 is noticeable but not insurmountable.

Of course, this all presumes that you have an open area to work in, not an enclosed building or similar

[firebug]

Of course, this all presumes that you have an open area to work in, not an enclosed building or similar

But if you don't have an open space, you are the logistics and recon guy.  Use a microdrone to figure out the location of your target, load APDS rounds into that rifle, and then shoot right through the wall of whatever building they're in.  Even the most bullet proof glass has trouble standing up against a Bull's Eye Double-Tap against a high powered sniper rifle.  Try and get your team to draw them into a better position; have your face ask for a handshake right in front of a window. 

[martinchaen]

Hehe, I was going to add something similar to my post, firebug, but didn't want to go too far. Shooting people through walls is certainly possible, no doubt about that. -6 Blindfire modifier isn't all that bad, really

[Xenon]

Noise might be a problem due to distance, but between satellite link, signal scrub and a wireless datajack you can reduce that to a maximum of 2 dice (even if the physical wireless device you are hacking is located on the other side of the world). The biggest issue you will have is that you can't the physical direct connection exploit to avoid host ratings on slaved devices (but once you are inside a host you will no longer suffer noise due to distance even when connecting to wireless devices that physically are located on the other side of the world... as long as they are slaved to the host you are in). Wired networks might also pose a problem, but one of your team mates can attach a wireless data tap to solve that. Buildings (like secret underground facilities) that might use wireless negation will be tricky to get around as a ranged decker.... SR5 do promote the decker to join the team on site a lot more than previous editions, but it can still be done. You can also do a lot of matrix legwork from your bed... being the primary matrix information gatherer.

Riggers have a lot of noise reduction tricks they can use. You should be able to remote control your drones or vehicles without too much trouble. At least as long as there is a matrix connection where you are going. You can still instruct the auto pilot to act on your behalf in places with a lot of wireless negation (as they don't use matrix actions), but again only when you have at least some matrix connection. Providing get-away vehicles, long range aerial sniper support, create distractions and supply extractions - all from your bed.

A magician -that focus on conjuring, spell defense and using astral projection- might be an interesting choice as well.

...some Hosts allow access only from specified locations...

Thought you reach hosts via the matrix...?

host: A self-contained place in the Matrix. Hosts have no physical location, as they exist purely in the Matrix cloud.

[firebug]

I'm pretty sure it's intended that Hosts can be reached anywhere; the only things I've seen have hosts that blur the line are (to be frank) the poorly-written Missions and similar adventures, which are already absolutely littered with rules violations and nonsense.

[Elektrycerze3]

Thought you reach hosts via the matrix...?

The final "boss" Host from Splintered State is inaccessible from the general Matrix; there is a line in the Manhattan part of Stolen Souls, that "Matrix access on Governors Island is restricted to the underground compound, and it is believed that inside the compound, the Matrix host rating is likely an 11 (if not 12)".

Page 358 of the core book hints somewhat that this might be intended, but your milage may wary.

And so we wait for the Matrix book =)