[ScytheKnight]

One long standing issue that we've had with my Missions based game is the Decker slot has more or less been cursed, every time there's a player who starts having issues being able to make it to play sessions regularly... it's the Decker.

It's something that got talked around the table a bit, the three players can still make it occasionally, but it's really going to mess up continuity to have three different characters randomly showing up for runs as the Decker, then something else happening when none of them can make it. In the end we decided on the idea of a 'floating character' someone who any of the part timers could play if they showed up, if not then someone else could run two characters. After some more discussion we also figured one way to reign this in somewhat was to have this character an AI, giving them great opportunities for handling Matrix side of thing, but of limited impact in the physical world.

Now yes, I'm well aware that AIs aren't Missions Legal, but we're pretty much doing a home game of pregen content using Missions legality as a guideline.

I'm thinking I might tackle this myself as I have some ideas for how to actually introduce this element to the group... but looking through the AI rules they looks fragging hard to make, especially just standard priority. So while I start trying to figure this out, going to toss things out here for advice, feedback, etc.

The goal is to have a charater able to handle the Matrix aspects of pregen content and Missions (Presently going through Sprawl Wilds, then hitting up London Falling before moving on to the actually Missions seasons), without being so OP as to trivialize that aspect of the game. I'd prefer to stick with standard Priority system to fit in with everyone else, but accept that I may need to resort to Sum to 10 just to make things work.

To be included:
Shiawase i-Doll with Realistic Features 3, Pilot rating upgraded to 4 and a personality kit. It will also come with Skillset Autosofts for Hardware 4, English 4 and Japanese 4 and a set of armoed clothing. (total cost 35,750)

The drone isn't designed to go on runs as a meatspace body, more of an intermediary and maintenance assistant as well as something of a companion.

It's also my general thinking that the AI would have Japanese as their native language.

[Pap Renvela]

Does your group have a vehicle rigger...
if not Pilot Origin [3] gives the same bonus as control rig [3] and you can then have the AI be both your driver (making the group vehicle it's home device) and the decker.

[ScytheKnight]

Does your group have a vehicle rigger...
if not Pilot Origin [3] gives the same bonus as control rig [3] and you can then have the AI be both your driver (making the group vehicle it's home device) and the decker.

No, but there are a few characters with good reaction for driving. Rigger's aren't really a role anyone has gone for due to everyone (myself included) being new to Shadowrun and how big of a clusterfuck the SR5 Rigger rules are and how many holes there are in them.

[Pap Renvela]

Does your group have a vehicle rigger...
if not Pilot Origin [3] gives the same bonus as control rig [3] and you can then have the AI be both your driver (making the group vehicle it's home device) and the decker.

No, but there are a few characters with good reaction for driving. Rigger's aren't really a role anyone has gone for due to everyone (myself included) being new to Shadowrun and how big of a clusterfuck the SR5 Rigger rules are and how many holes there are in them.

There is a big difference between a reaction 6 guy trying a threshold 4 maneuver and a guy with half the reaction but control rig [3].

I'm not suggesting to turn him into a full-blown rigger just a Driver.

It also allows him to use autosofts. Build a cybernetic arm inside the van and all of a sudden the AI could be using autosofts to help with repairs, first aid, hand loaded ammo- you name it. Teamwork rolls are just great.

[Csjarrat]

Also let's you buy skills with cash instead of skill points. Ewar, clearsight, maneuver etc

[ScytheKnight]

Also let's you buy skills with cash instead of skill points. Ewar, clearsight, maneuver etc

Except that AIs are barred from buying software for themselves and must pay karma to write them themselves.

[Csjarrat]

Also let's you buy skills with cash instead of skill points. Ewar, clearsight, maneuver etc

Except that AIs are barred from buying software for themselves and must pay karma to write them themselves.

not if they're a pilot. they can use autosofts:

The AI is
also capable of loading, converting, and using drone au-
tosofts

pg 151, data trails

So you can easily buy electronic warfare, perception (clearsight) skillset: hardware etc as autosofts and take skills at E with little penalty.
Taking a drone of some kind for a meet or hands-on mission is sometimes going to be useful, especially when you can mod a drone to have a sleaze rating so taking pilot origins is pretty neat and well worth it imho.

This is aside from the argument over whether they can or can't make use of normal programs of course, my personal stand is that its bullshit and unnecessarily penalises an already shit character class further.

[ScytheKnight]

Meanwhile I've spent three days scratching my head over the priority chart, and I simply can not find any standard priority ranking that... well actually works. The minimum Metatype is C, if you go higher than a C in Depth you're going to need all of Resources A just to afford a Deck they can fit in properly. Then you need about Attributes C to have basically any stat points at all.. and well if you want a Decker, much less a Decker Rigger like I'm being recommended, you start needing Skills A or at very least B.

I just don't see how it's actually possible to make a functional AI character at Standard Priority, hell even Sum to 10 would be extremely difficult.

[gradivus]

Skills E
Depth D (because something has to be here and it can;t be meta)
Resources C (go with Az Emmissary...)
Meta B (Raise Depth to with the Special Points)
Attributes A

Go with Pilot origin more to use Autosofts than to actual be a rigger (that's just gravy on top)

You'll be spending a good chunk of post chargen karma on skills to flesh him out but that's why there's JOAT.

By the way...is this character going tp be getting the karma the party has accrued...if so I use all off the skillpoints in Cracking (hacking|hack on the fly 6|+2 especially) and use 15 Karma in chargen for Electroincs SG2... used accrued karma to keep raising Electronics.

[ScytheKnight]

Yeah he'll get his own Missions calendar.

What would it be using instead of Reaction for pilot ground craft?

Also, that wouldn't really work.. you'd be a Depth 4 trying to fit into a DR 3 cyberdeck that has a single program slot... sure you could use Virtual program to fir in, but then no room for anything else needed to counteract the low stats.

[gradivus]

Yeah he'll get his own Missions calendar.

What would it be using instead of Reaction for pilot ground craft?

Also, that wouldn't really work.. you'd be a Depth 4 trying to fit into a DR 3 cyberdeck that has a single program slot... sure you could use Virtual program to fir in, but then no room for anything else needed to counteract the low stats.

Depth since Pilot would normally replace physical stat and Depth replaces Pilot in vehicle combat.

Module- program carrier (virtual program) solves slot problem.

low attributes are improved with optimization- meaning the cyberdeck must be the home and of course there's overclocker. The little hornet can be modded to 6-3-1-1 and overclocker makes that 7-3-1-1 plus the optimization bonus... your action economy is less then a meat decker since you can't take perfect time quality.

[ScytheKnight]

Hmm... yeah I see where you're going with that. Programs and Autosofts still seem a bit of a stumbling block.

Almost seems like "Yeah OK, we'll let you plat AIs... but we really don't want you to."

Honestly, I think I've finally found something more nerfed-into-the-ground-unplayable than a Technomancer... and that's REALLY saying something.

[Pap Renvela]

Hmm... yeah I see where you're going with that. Programs and Autosofts still seem a bit of a stumbling block.

Almost seems like "Yeah OK, we'll let you plat AIs... but we really don't want you to."

Honestly, I think I've finally found something more nerfed-into-the-ground-unplayable than a Technomancer... and that's REALLY saying something.

AI still can't buy programs and cracking skills as far as I know aren't available as autosofts.

While I think initially an AI is more limited than metahuman, potentially it is more powerful as Depth and EDG and one stat can go to 9 and one other stat has potential unlimited growth.

[ScytheKnight]

Hmm... yeah I see where you're going with that. Programs and Autosofts still seem a bit of a stumbling block.

Almost seems like "Yeah OK, we'll let you plat AIs... but we really don't want you to."

Honestly, I think I've finally found something more nerfed-into-the-ground-unplayable than a Technomancer... and that's REALLY saying something.

AI still can't buy programs and cracking skills as far as I know aren't available as autosofts.

While I think initially an AI is more limited than metahuman, potentially it is more powerful as Depth and EDG and one stat can go to 9 and one other stat has potential unlimited growth.

Yeah i'm not saying they don't have potential, similar to Technomancers.. it's just the out-of-the-box experience is terrible, largely because trying to actually build something playable is a nightmare.

[Tai-Pan]

Problem... No AI in Missions.