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Message no. 1
From: grant.woodward@*****.com (Grant Woodward)
Subject: Technomancers and rigging
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 14:47:56 -0400
So I've started GMing a 4th Ed. Shadowrun game after a year or two of not
playing any SR at all, and as you might expect I've probably bitten off more
than I can chew. One of my players asked me about his *next* character (he's
got a different character now, but it's always good to have a backup to hop
back in the game with), which was a technomancer rigger with a vehicle focus
rather than drones. Essentially, a getaway driver who happens to be a
technomancer. Now, SR4 says quite clearly on page 238 that hackers and
technomancers can both rig. Great. But rigging and other Matrix characters
are my weakest area of expertise (I always played mages or faces) so I
wanted to check a couple of things with everyone.

-- The only unique piece of equipment a rigger really needs is a Vehicle
Control Rig, right? And without it he can't do much with vehicles or drones?

-- How does the wireless world of 2070 affect rigging? The VCR basically
broadcasts a radio control signal for drones, which is exactly what wireless
access points do.

-- Just to head off the question before my players think it up -- how could
a rigger use or abuse sprites?

Thanks for the help!

Grant W.
Message no. 2
From: anders@**********.com (Anders Swenson)
Subject: Technomancers and rigging
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 15:19:33 -0700
On Thu, 13 Jul 2006 14:47:56 -0400
"Grant Woodward" <grant.woodward@*****.com> wrote:

[snip]

>
> -- The only unique piece of equipment a rigger really needs is a Vehicle
> Control Rig, right? And without it he can't do much with vehicles or
> drones?
>
Yes
> -- How does the wireless world of 2070 affect rigging? The VCR basically
> broadcasts a radio control signal for drones, which is exactly what
> wireless access points do.
>
I imagine the VCR produces a complex signal suitable for use by vehicles

> -- Just to head off the question before my players think it up -- how could
> a rigger use or abuse sprites?
>
Limited only be eeeevil imagination, either by the players or by the GM. I'm
sure there are things sprites can do, I would imagine a sprite could interact
with a VCR with interesting results. Since all signals are wireless, Sprites
should have access to the wireless, and if you can hack personal cyberwear,
why not the implanted VCR?

--Anders
Message no. 3
From: gurth@******.nl (Gurth)
Subject: Technomancers and rigging
Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2006 11:14:34 +0200
According to Grant Woodward, on 13-7-06 20:47 the word on the street was...

> -- The only unique piece of equipment a rigger really needs is a Vehicle
> Control Rig, right? And without it he can't do much with vehicles or
> drones?

In SR1/II/3, almost -- they'd also need a datajack to actually connect
to the vehicle. In SR4, the VCR has been done away with: you access
drones like any other wireless device, and then issue it commands. The
full rules are on page 238 of SR4.

--
Gurth@******.nl - Stone Age: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
There are no stories about romance, no fairy-tale endings
-> Former NAGEE Editor & ShadowRN GridSec * Triangle Virtuoso <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Site: http://plastic.dumpshock.com <-

GC3.12: GAT/! d- s:- !a>? C++(---) UB+ P(+) L++ E W++(--) N o? K w-- O
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Incubated into the First Church of the Sqooshy Ball, 21-05-1998

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