[haiiro_okami]

Run and Gun lists pricing and availability for an underbarrel grenade launcher mod, but what I can't seem to find no matter how hard I look (I even poked through the errata) is the actual stats of the modification. Can anyone help with this? Looking to mount an MMG on a drone and I figured an underbarrel grenade launcher would give me some flexibility.

[Herr Brackhaus]

Stat for this doesn't actually exist (yet) as far as I'm aware. As a GM, I'd just use the AK-98 or similar for stats.

[haiiro_okami]

Ouch....the AK-98's grenade launcher kinda sucks.... (though Marcos has a point, doesn't really matter that much if you're using nonlethal chemicals)

[adzling]

I believe this kind of setup (underbarrell GLs) are now verbotim on drones according to Rigger 5.0.
their ok if put into their weapon mounts,

[Herr Brackhaus]

Verbotim?

German for Forbidden is Verboten. And you can add an underbarrel weapon to a drone weapon. Nothing prohibits this.

[Marcus Gideon]

Verbatim... Verboten...

Same thing, only not. =)

I'm not sure why adding an Underbarrel accessory to a drone mounted weapon would be prohibited, except that now you're using up an extra Autosoft to cover the grenade launcher.

Keep in mind, when a player wields an Ares Alpha, they have to use both the Automatics and the Heavy Weapons skills. So the drone would need an Autosoft for the rifle aspect, and another for the grenade aspect.

[Novocrane]

Keep in mind, when a player wields an Ares Alpha, they have to use both the Automatics and the Heavy Weapons skills. So the drone would need an Autosoft for the rifle aspect, and another for the grenade aspect.

[Weapon] Targeting: This is the Gunnery skill, but for a weapon of a specific model.

Note that it doesn't say 'weapon of a specific model and skill'. The skill is Gunnery.

Gunnery is used when firing any vehicle-mounted weapon, regardless of how or where the weapon is mounted.

Targeting: Ares Alpha asks no questions, so long as you're firing the Ares Alpha. Targeting: HK XM30 is not six different autosofts.

[Herr Brackhaus]

And that's why the XM30 is such a great weapons platform for a drone

[Marcus Gideon]

I suppose it's up to you guys at your tables, but that just doesn't make much sense in my head.

Drones are dumb. They cannot attempt to fire a weapon untrained. They MUST have the correct Autosoft for THAT specific weapon. You can't give them the Automatics Autosoft and let them fire any random assault rifle. You can't even give them the AK-97 Autosoft, and expect it to work if you swap out the mount for an Ares Alpha instead. So that tells me that the Autosofts are VERY specific programming about precisely how that weapon functions.

When your Street Sam picks up an Ares Alpha, he's going to need the Automatics skill and the Heavy Weapons skill. If he tries to point the rifle straight at the target, and fire a grenade, he's going to miss. That's where Heavy Weapon training would tell him to shoot for a parabolic arc instead.

Now you hand that same Street Sam a duffel bag full of HK XM30 parts, and he's going to need Automatics (Assault Rifle Carbine), Longarms (Sniper and Shotgun), and Heavy Weapons (LMG and Grenade). 3x skills for 5x different weapon configurations.

But you're telling me that you expect a single Autosoft to cover all those variations? If that's how you run it at your table, then heck yeah the XM30 is the best choice. You get 5x different modular functions for the price of a single Autosoft.

[Novocrane]

But you're telling me that you expect a single Autosoft to cover all those variations?

When it's limited to that weapon, on that drone, with a dice pool that might not be able to reach double digits, because autosoft rating can't pass pilot rating, and pilot rating is listed under attribute modifications? (limited to *2 modification)
Yeah! I do believe the software to operate a firearm is complete for that firearm.

I also believe a maneuver autosoft can (attempt to) handle all vehicle tests and terrain modifiers. It's not that impressive.

[adzling]

I'm with Marcus Gideon on this one.

Drone autosofts are very specialized, the UB GL is a separate weapon requiring a separate autosoft.

Same for the HK xm30, different configurations would require different autosofts because the weapon performs differently.

Its one of those oversights/ exploits/ loopholes that you can either take advantage of or realizes that it's not RAI.

[Herr Brackhaus]

Its one of those oversights/ exploits/ loopholes that you can either take advantage of or realizes that it's not RAI.

That's your opinion; you've got no way of knowing what the writers intended. I think they intended for one Targeting autosoft to cover one weapon; if that weapon comes with an underbarrel grenade launcher, like the Ares Alpha, then I believe an Ares Alpha Targeting autosoft covers both the AR and the grenade launcher.

Drones don't use Automatics or Heavy Weapons skills, they use Gunnery which is represented by the Targeting autosoft for one specific weapon. For some reason, the writers decided to let Gunnery apply to everything you can possibly install in a weapon mount, from holdouts to assault cannons to missile launchers and lasers. Make of that what you want, and as always, check with your GM because RAW isn't conclusive so each table has to interpret the rules for themselves.

[Rooks]

I'm with Marcus Gideon on this one.

Drone autosofts are very specialized, the UB GL is a separate weapon requiring a separate autosoft.

Same for the HK xm30, different configurations would require different autosofts because the weapon performs differently.

Its one of those oversights/ exploits/ loopholes that you can either take advantage of or realizes that it's not RAI.

Except for Ares Alpha and AK98

[adzling]

Well the point that Marcus was trying to make, I believe, was that because you need an autosoft for specific weapon (ak-98, ares alpha etc) that is due to the different performance and ballistic specifics of each weapon.

So an Ares Alpha has different ballistic performance from an AK-98 even though they are both assault rifles, hence the need for an ak-98 autosoft and an ares alpha autosoft.

If you accept this (and don't houserule that there is an Gunnery autosoft) then it would make sense that the GL is also a different weapon and that the many variations possible with the HK weapon system would each require a different autosoft for the various different configurations because the HK sniper rifle ballistics are far different from the HK smg ballistics.

However it is a grey area, so it would be up to your GM, no doubt.

[Marcus Gideon]

Well the point that Marcus was trying to make, I believe, was that because you need an autosoft for specific weapon (ak-98, ares alpha etc) that is due to the different performance and ballistic specifics of each weapon.

So an Ares Alpha has different ballistic performance from an AK-98 even though they are both assault rifles, hence the need for an ak-98 autosoft and an ares alpha autosoft.

If you accept this (and don't houserule that there is an Gunnery autosoft) then it would make sense that the GL is also a different weapon and that the many variations possible with the HK weapon system would each require a different autosoft for the various different configurations because the HK sniper rifle ballistics are far different from the HK smg ballistics.

However it is a grey area, so it would be up to your GM, no doubt.

Precisely. The game mechanics made skills somewhat generic to save characters from spending so much Karma on niche skills. But that doesn't mean it's going to translate into computer programming as easily.

If there were a single Gunnery Autosoft that allowed the drone to fire any mounted weapon, that would make sense. Since they seem to think that a straight line laser, or a arcing mortar, or a dummy fire rocket, all deserve a single skill for the Rigger to train.

If there were a single Automatics Autosoft that allowed the drone to fire any Machine Pistol, SMG, or Assault Rifle, that would make sense. Since they seem to think that anything capable of firing more than one round at a time all deserve a single skill for characters in general to train.

But... they have made it very clear that you cannot use the AK-97 Autosoft when you fit an AK-98 instead. Even though it's the exact same rifle, just with a grenade launcher attached, the Autosoft won't work. Maybe that's b/c of the different balance in the weapon, or maybe it is b/c they included extra programming for the grenade launcher.

However, everything else about Autosofts makes me believe they are painfully specific in regards to form and function. And like Adzling said, everything about how you hold, point, and shoot a rifle is different from a grenade launcher. If characters are expected to train 2x skills to make full use of the rifle, then it's fair to say you're required to load 2x Autosofts for the same benefit.