[taukarrie]

In the 6e CRB pdf pg.276-278 there is a section on sensors that has shaken what I thought I understood about drones. According to this section anything with a sensor array, which is what the drone sensor rating apparently represents, can have up to its rating number of sensor functions from the sensor functions table. So if i buy a Roto-Drone with a sensor rating of 2 do I have to specify the nature of its sensor array? So I could end up with a Roto-Drone that can predict the weather and smell roses but it would be blind and deaf?

And how does this all work when a rigger jumps into a drone. I had assumed that if a rigger jumps into a MCT Gnat they would have the sensation of being a tiny insect in a huge world and use the general sensor rating of the drone so perceive things in the world. But since a Gnat has a senor rating of 1 it now sounds to me like I have to choose if I want it to be able to see or hear or any one single other sense from that chart.

According to the rigger section rules for drones there are rolls to be made for autosofts based on sensor rating that pertain to firing weapons and evading attacks and general perception without any mention of sensor functions so that further confounds things.

I dont want to think that the sensor rules im referring to are just for handheld devices and facilities because I should be able to modify my stock drone or vehicle as needed to use a variety of sensors for whatever type of surveillance I need to do. I should be able to swap out a directional mic for a laser mic or replace a standard camera with an ultrasonic and so on.

[Plan_B]

My understanding of it is that it is not a sensor array as seen on wearable gear but that it is an Attribute of the vehicle/drone, like Pilot. For example, Sensor is the Attribute that a drone would pair with its weapon autosoft for an attack. It would also use it as part of a perception test or to resisting/engaging in Electronic Warfare, such as jamming signals and creating Noise.

[Michael Chandra]

Most vehicles and drones come factory-
equipped with a sensor array (at a rating listed
with their stats)

This sensor package includes up to its rating in
functions from the Sensor Functions options.

So the drone has some form of natural sensor array, at the rating of their stats. They come with some default sensors, to the point it makes sense for the drone/vehicle. A GM can play around with that and let the player pick plausible options, though of course within reason: No drone will come off the factory floor without a camera, and you wouldn't expect a combat drone to come with a Geiger counter as default. If Sensor rating is 2, the default package probably is Camera + Omni-Directional Microphone.

As for the Gnat: You pay 800 nuyen for 10, if I read this right? Doesn't surprise me all they have is a microcamera. So you wouldn't be able to hear when you jump into one, unless you upgrade its array. When jumped in, you experience the world the way the vehicle/drone does. So the drone itself you can feel as if it's your body, but you only perceive the way the drone does: Through its sensors.

Upgrading Sensor Arrays is typically something with detailed rules in the Rigger book, right now I'd just go with 'buy a new (better) array and let a mechanic install it for you'. But if you simply don't like one of the default sensors, you could just buy another sensor of the same rating to replace it.

[taukarrie]

Most vehicles and drones come factory-
equipped with a sensor array (at a rating listed
with their stats)

This sensor package includes up to its rating in
functions from the Sensor Functions options.

So the drone has some form of natural sensor array, at the rating of their stats. They come with some default sensors, to the point it makes sense for the drone/vehicle. A GM can play around with that and let the player pick plausible options, though of course within reason: No drone will come off the factory floor without a camera, and you wouldn't expect a combat drone to come with a Geiger counter as default. If Sensor rating is 2, the default package probably is Camera + Omni-Directional Microphone.

As for the Gnat: You pay 800 nuyen for 10, if I read this right? Doesn't surprise me all they have is a microcamera. So you wouldn't be able to hear when you jump into one, unless you upgrade its array. When jumped in, you experience the world the way the vehicle/drone does. So the drone itself you can feel as if it's your body, but you only perceive the way the drone does: Through its sensors.

Upgrading Sensor Arrays is typically something with detailed rules in the Rigger book, right now I'd just go with 'buy a new (better) array and let a mechanic install it for you'. But if you simply don't like one of the default sensors, you could just buy another sensor of the same rating to replace it.

The two things you quoted there are what I was trying to go off of. So what you're explaining here is pretty much what I was interpreting I think. The sensor rating of a particular drone or vehicle is also the number of sensor functions it has (from the functions list) and at the time of acquisition the default functions of a drone/vehicle's sensor array should be stated. So if I wanted a Gnat that had a laser mic I would have to replace its only camera to do so, rendering it blind in the sense that I cannot get a video feed remotely, or see through its eyes while jumped in.

So that would cover how to determine what a drone's sensor package can handle in terms of the sensor functions. But Im still not clear on how modifying these functions affects the autosofts when the remote controlling the drone or when its on its own AI. A perception roll with clear sight would be autosoft+sensors. So for rolls like that is it just a common sense GM decision?  Like, if your drone has only a camera it cant make hearing based perception rolls?

And while I'm on autosofts..

"Autosofts are programs accessed by the Pilot program in drones. They serve as skills to augment the drone’s performance. The attribute used with each autosoft is included in the listing, though remember that riggers use their own attributes when jumped in" CRB pdf pg.202

So when a drone is remotely controlled or on AI this seems simple enough. autosoft+drone attribute. But when jumped in how do I know which rigger attributes to use for these tests? We have the chart for regular attributes vs jumped in attributes but that really doesnt help because this quote about autosofts doesnt say how to choose which jumped in attribute is used for which autosoft. Im also confused about why autosofts matter at all when jumped in. Arent these just skills for a drone on its own? For example, I would think that if I were jumped into a small drone and trying to hide in a dark corner I would roll my character's stealth skill + Logic (jumped in attribute for agility) and that any installed stealth autosoft would not come into play. Or is that roll character stealth skill+Logic+stealth autosoft.  I just dont know.

[ZeroSum]

So for rolls like that is it just a common sense GM decision?  Like, if your drone has only a camera it cant make hearing based perception rolls?

Rating 1 sensors are pretty barebone, but do note that cameras do come with microphones (or at least, they used to in previous editions, not sure about 6th). From 5th Edition CRB:

A common visual device, cameras can capture still photos, video, and trideo, including sound. Cameras may also be upgraded with vision enhancements and audio enhancements. A micro version is available with a Capacity 1.

As a GM, the way I've handled this in past editions is for the player to tell me what sensors they buy the drone with; for example, you could buy 5 Gnats with cameras and 5 with laser-microphones if that was what you wanted.

When you launch one drone during a run I would simply ask you what sensors the device has, and that could limit the options said drone has for perception tests. This is similar to what most players would do before they go on a run. "I put my pistol in my shoulder holster, and my electronics tool kit in a coat pocket. Oh, and four spare clips in my belt, and I'll be running this SIN on this commlink."

On Autosofts, I can't really comment on 6th Edition as I don't have that rulebook. In past editions Autosofts were only used when the Pilot program was called upon to take a test, while jumped in Riggers used to have to use substitutions for physical actions. So for example you would roll Stealth + Intuition instead of Stealth + Agility when jumped in. You'll need someone with the 6th Edition core book to confirm what this is like in this edition, though.

[Aria]

The same camera text made it through to SR6 so it can capture sound and have audio enhancements added to it!

[Banshee]

I would say that a vehicle (and drones) sensor attribute and a sensor array is not the same thing ... just bad phrasing that causes confusion.

A vehicle's sensor attribute represents the how good the sensors it has works, you can assume that a vehicle only has the basic sensors as needed to function. Such as motion and distance and camera for most, radar for some, sonar for water, and microphones for surveillance  ... anything beyond that would require additional sensors via an array

[ZeroSum]

I would say that a vehicle (and drones) sensor attribute and a sensor array is not the same thing ... just bad phrasing that causes confusion.

A vehicle's sensor attribute represents the how good the sensors it has works, you can assume that a vehicle only has the basic sensors as needed to function. Such as motion and distance and camera for most, radar for some, sonar for water, and microphones for surveillance  ... anything beyond that would require additional sensors via an array

Has the text changed from 5th to 6th?

In 5th, a Sensor Array was specifically defined as

This sensor package includes up to eight functions listed under Sensor Functions.

And thus, the rating of the array determined the quality of it.

[taukarrie]

I would say that a vehicle (and drones) sensor attribute and a sensor array is not the same thing ... just bad phrasing that causes confusion.

A vehicle's sensor attribute represents the how good the sensors it has works, you can assume that a vehicle only has the basic sensors as needed to function. Such as motion and distance and camera for most, radar for some, sonar for water, and microphones for surveillance  ... anything beyond that would require additional sensors via an array

In that case how would you determine what kind of sensors beyond the standard audio/visual package a particular stock vehicle/drone has?  And are we just waiting for a modern day Rigger Black Book for rules on how to upgrade base sensor/piloting stats and how to determine capacity for adding specific additional sensors?

[Aria]

In SR5 it was up to the player. In 6 they seem to have clarified that you can effectively nest enhancements within a camera within an array, but it will get expensive fast!

[Banshee]

I would say that a vehicle (and drones) sensor attribute and a sensor array is not the same thing ... just bad phrasing that causes confusion.

A vehicle's sensor attribute represents the how good the sensors it has works, you can assume that a vehicle only has the basic sensors as needed to function. Such as motion and distance and camera for most, radar for some, sonar for water, and microphones for surveillance  ... anything beyond that would require additional sensors via an array

In that case how would you determine what kind of sensors beyond the standard audio/visual package a particular stock vehicle/drone has?  And are we just waiting for a modern day Rigger Black Book for rules on how to upgrade base sensor/piloting stats and how to determine capacity for adding specific additional sensors?

That's just it ... I don't. What specific sensors they have is a moot point 99% of the time, it's just a dice roll to determine if the sensors pick anything up. Only if the player is trying to do something weird or beyond the scope of any normal sensor do I worry about it.

[Stainless Steel Devil Rat]

When it comes to trying to figure out if a drone has the sensor mods that would generate or deny edge, it'll probably be best to GM fiat it until Rigger 6.

[taukarrie]

I would say that a vehicle (and drones) sensor attribute and a sensor array is not the same thing ... just bad phrasing that causes confusion.

A vehicle's sensor attribute represents the how good the sensors it has works, you can assume that a vehicle only has the basic sensors as needed to function. Such as motion and distance and camera for most, radar for some, sonar for water, and microphones for surveillance  ... anything beyond that would require additional sensors via an array

In that case how would you determine what kind of sensors beyond the standard audio/visual package a particular stock vehicle/drone has?  And are we just waiting for a modern day Rigger Black Book for rules on how to upgrade base sensor/piloting stats and how to determine capacity for adding specific additional sensors?

That's just it ... I don't. What specific sensors they have is a moot point 99% of the time, it's just a dice roll to determine if the sensors pick anything up. Only if the player is trying to do something weird or beyond the scope of any normal sensor do I worry about it.

Alright then. For now ill just assume all stock vehicles/drones have a camera with a capacity equal to their base sensor rating (1 for micro cameras on tiny drones)  and allow a number of additional sensor functions or cameras to be installed up to the vehicle/drone's sensor rating. And I'll use the Sensor Packages chart to determine the max sensor rating allowed and permit swapping out the stock sensors for a higher rating per the costs on the Sensors charts. I'll also use the same charts and costs for piloting suite upgrades until we see a rigger book that lays out something different.

[Michael Chandra]

I would say that a vehicle (and drones) sensor attribute and a sensor array is not the same thing ... just bad phrasing that causes confusion.

A vehicle's sensor attribute represents the how good the sensors it has works, you can assume that a vehicle only has the basic sensors as needed to function. Such as motion and distance and camera for most, radar for some, sonar for water, and microphones for surveillance  ... anything beyond that would require additional sensors via an array

Has the text changed from 5th to 6th?

In 5th, a Sensor Array was specifically defined as

This sensor package includes up to eight functions listed under Sensor Functions.

And thus, the rating of the array determined the quality of it.

Yeah in SR6 it's Rating in sensors. Not [6] & 8 Capacity, but Rating Capacity. But I still would consider the rating of the array the same as the attribute so if you upgrade it I'd give you extra dice. It's expensive enough. Want rating 3 in that small drone? 3 grand for 3 sensors...

[CigarSmoker]

Another question mildly related to this.

I found nowhere in rules a limit for autosoft ratings. Neither a limit how high a Rating can be for a Drone. So Autosoft is Rating = Avail. You could basically buy 3 Rating 100 Autosoft (Maneuver, Evasion, Weapon Skill) and then let your Drone Roll over 100 Dice on average. (cost for that software 500Yx100 each)
It would be Avail 100 but as i recently learned that doesnt matter at char gen.