[jscotshady]

Can a drone loaded with the Electronic Warfare Autosoft make a Jamming On The Fly check?  In the main book it does say they can jam signals but I am not sure if that means that the drone can use a jammer or if they can use their own singal to jam others.  I figured I'd get some opinions before I go to my group with it.  Thanks.

[Unadept]

I think so- it says right in the description that this autosoft can jam signals.

Ah, just noticed that you'd already noticed that.  Using a Jammer is as simple as pressing a button, so I'm pretty sure they meant Jamming on the Fly.

[Falconer]

Yes it can... just remember that autosofts are limited to rating 4 and also limited to no higher than the pilot rating.  System of the drone == it's pilot rating... can't run programs higher than it's system.

With only 6 or maybe 8 dice in most cases i don't expect it to be highly effective since the other side rolls signal + eccm.   But you should be able to disconnect logins and active connections if you only win once...  but ECCM software also can't automagically ignore it like it can most jammers.

Another way to go about this is a machine sprite if you're a technomancer.... autosofts are optional powers for them.

[jscotshady]

Thanks guys.  That does confirm things for me.  I know it isn't a perfect solution but as a rigger I have a ferret drone that is good as a spotter but he tends to be a little less helpful in combat.  This will give it something to do.

One other question along this line, does jamming on the fly function like other jamming?  Specifically can you exclude some devices from the jamming as you can with a jammer?

[Falconer]

No that's why it is not a normal jammer.   It is an opposed test between two and only two devices with a signal rating.   Also why it's so great... normal jammers get everything EXCEPT the devices you specifically exempt... smart jammers get only the devices you specify.   But are trivially easy to beat with ECCM software given their range failoffs. (mispelling intentional)

The jammer rolls Signal + Ewar.   The jammee rolls Signal + Ewar + ECCM.

Agents can't use the skill... ewar isn't on the list of their allowed skills!  Pilots (and machine sprites) can through the use of the right autosoft.

But lets put that in perpective lets say you have a rigger jumped into his drone... signal 3... ewar 4... eccm 3 (eccm is limited by drones pilot just like all other programs)..   that's only 10 dice... even if you're only tossing 6 dice... you will win sometimes (if you're curious the exact odds of 6 dice beating 10 dice are roughly 1 in 6 or 16.5%)... when you do win... what happens... the rigger is dumpshocked.  With 2 or 3 actions per combat turn.... you stand a good chance of pulling it off within a combat turn or 3.   Now the drone has no Ewar skill (if the rigger was in... he probably doesn't have an ewar autosoft loaded let alone owned).. now it's just your autosoft + signal vs. his signal + eccm to keep the drone locked out.