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What actions can a mechanic's exocortex do? The game mentions action economy for the drone. It occasionally has abilities that require an action from the exocortex, but doesn't say what actions it can do
computer use checks, from what i noticed first off. Only level 2 currently though, so haven't run into much else yet.
But that's still really useful depending on the gm and how they use the computer rules. Hide behind cover from the turret while your exocortex hacks it. Sneak up on the bad guys and hack their comms. A smart player could get away with a lot of shenanigans.
But like...can they take standard actions and move actions?
But like...can they take standard actions and move actions?
If I recall correctly, the exocortex has got a standard action worth of hacking each round. As far as I can tell, the mechanic should need to use a move action to direct the start of the hack, the same as they direct a target lock, but should then have their own full set of actions while the exocortex does its work.
But like...can they take standard actions and move actions?If I recall correctly, the exocortex has got a standard action worth of hacking each round. As far as I can tell, the mechanic should need to use a move action to direct the start of the hack, the same as they direct a target lock, but should then have their own full set of actions while the exocortex does its work.
Can you cite any rules text? A drone mechanic has rules about their drone's' action economy, but I can't find anything about the exocortex's action economy. I also can't find any rules about artificial intelligence in general.
Wireless Hack (Ex) 5th Level Instead of combat tracking, your exocortex can access another computer system within 20 feet, allowing it to attempt a Computers check against that computer each round, using your skill bonus. This counts as a standard action for the purpose of the Computers skill. You must remain within 20 feet of the computer system for the entire time your exocortex is interacting with the computer. If the task requires multiple actions (or even rounds) to accomplish, you can spend your actions to work in concert with your exocortex, counting both your action and the exocortex’s effective standard action toward the total time required. If you don’t have the remote hack class feature, you must be adjacent to the computer to attempt your checks.
So, the move action to start, I am assuming from "instead of combat tracking", as that would be the same action pattern, but the standard action worth of hacking that the exocortex can do per round is spelled out.
The exocortex isn't actually doing any actions in Wireless Hack. It just allows you to target a computer during combat tracking and gives you extra progress each round for using the Computer skill. It's an awkwardly written ability and has the problem where (technically) you can't use this ability out of combat because combat tracking only works while in combat.
I'm finding it odd that the exocortex is an artifical intelligence, but it lacks ability scores and other statistics I would expect from such a class feature.
I do not think that you're entirely correct, there. The ability says that you can use your actions to work with the exocortex, and get the hack done faster, in addition to the exocortex’s effective standard action.
The only 2 ways I can read that are that either:
1. The exocortex hacks while you either use your actions to also hack, or use them for anything else.
Or
2. You use move action to hack as an effective standard, and either use your standard action to also hack, or do anything else.
Option 2 does not seem to fit as well with the other text of the ability, but either way, you can at least get a second standard action per round if at least 1 of them is a computer skill check.
What am I missing, here, that would mean otherwise?
It just allows you to target a computer during combat tracking
This is incorrect. Wireless Hack is used instead of combat tracking- they can't be used simultaneously, so definitely not 'during'
It is very clear that the exocortex is getting a standard action of its own for this hack- you don't have to do anything, though you can also hack and spend your actions.
There also isn't anything in combat tracking that suggests it is only usable during combat. (the actual mechanical bonus it provides is only useful if you're shooting at the target, but that isn't the same thing)
What's more annoying is memory module- which is specifically only usable while not in combat. The text suggests that while it gives you a bonus skill focus feat, that may get turned off with the rest of the memory module if you enable combat tracking.
The exocortex isn't actually doing any actions in Wireless Hack.
Exactly. This is why the rules state:
"This counts as a standard action FOR THE PURPOSE of the Computers skill. ...If the task requires multiple actions... you can... [count] both your action and the exocortex’s EFFECTIVE standard action toward the total time required".FOR THE PURPOSES OF... EFFECTIVE STANDARD ACTION. Those aren't phrases that would apply if the Exocortex actually has it's own Standard Action. The reason why it invokes this is to simply convey how it interacts with Computer hacking mechanics which is written from the perspective of characters spending actions. The Exocortex progresses thru that without formally spending any actions, and thus there is no question of potentially using a Standard Action for anything else.
I'm finding it odd that the exocortex is an artifical intelligence, but it lacks ability scores and other statistics I would expect from such a class feature.
You're right the Exocortex is not substantiated as intelligent "character" like intelligent items are. It does not have it's own actions, or Init. This is not as unprecedented as you believe, in Pathfinder Rage Prophet PrC and Spirit Totem both have "fluff" of spirits "doing things" but no discrete character is established, their attacks or spellcasting just "happen" due to your class abilities.
Voss and Hammerjack
"Effective standard action" isn't the same as saying something is doing a standard action. It uses this language because what you can do with the Computer skill is based on the number of standard actions you take while interacting with a computer.
It's not totally clear what " Instead of combat tracking," means in wireless hack. It sounds like you have to use combat tracking, but then do wireless hack's effect instead of gaining a full BAB.
There also isn't anything in combat tracking that suggests it is only usable during combat.
"Combat Tracking (Ex) 1st Level
Your exocortex provides you with enhanced combat ability,granting you proficiency with heavy armor and longarms. At
3rd level, you gain weapon specialization in longarms just
as if your class granted proficiency. As a move action during
combat, you can designate a foe for your exocortex to track.
As long as that target is in sight, the exocortex feeds you
telemetry, vulnerabilities, and combat tactics, allowing you to
make attacks against that target as if your base attack bonus
from your mechanic levels were equal to your mechanic level.
Designating another target causes you to immediately lose this
bonus against the previous target."
Voss and Hammerjack
"Effective standard action" isn't the same as saying something is doing a standard action. It uses this language because what you can do with the Computer skill is based on the number of standard actions you take while interacting with a computer.It's not totally clear what " Instead of combat tracking," means in wireless hack. It sounds like you have to use combat tracking, but then do wireless hack's effect instead of gaining a full BAB.
"Instead of combat tracking" is exactly the reading that I was going with at the beginning. My reading is that you spend one move action at the start of the hack, and get one standard action worth of hacking per round, instead of full BAB.
What, exactly, is the functional difference that you see between the exocortex, which normally does not take actions, making a standard action computer check each round and an equivalent check happening each round with no one actually taking an action?
Fair enough on the move action.
It's not totally clear what " Instead of combat tracking," means in wireless hack. It sounds like you have to use combat tracking, but then do wireless hack's effect instead of gaining a full BAB.
You can't use them simultaneously. It's all it means, and all it needs to mean. Exocortex is honestly limited enough.
"Effective standard action" isn't the same as saying something is doing a standard action. It uses this language because what you can do with the Computer skill is based on the number of standard actions you take while interacting with a computer.
Right. And that is all it does... so, every round you use wireless hack, it is interacting with the target computer as if you were spending a standard action. But you still have yours.
I think you're overcomplicating it. If you are trying to track a target, you can't use the other exocortex abilities and the other way around.
I was looking at this again and it is pretty clear the exocortex has a hacking standard action it can potentially use. Doing this deactivates the combat tracking though until you get the multitasking skill.
There is also another ability coordinated assault that gives you bonuses if you and your exocortex work to hack the same target. So if you want you can go all in and use your standard action to hack in addition to your exocortex to either speed something up or improve your chances of success but for this power to make any sense the exocortex needs to have the ability to work on its own as it denotes this as special effort to do not just your default way of hacking.
And doing this has an in game trade off until higher level you lose accuracy to let your exocortex work on hacking. Losing your own attack at the same time would render this ability pretty useless.
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Since an Exocortex is a computer, couldn't it be setup with a control module to control your weapon?
The Exocortex isn't a computer, but your Custom Rig becomes one at level 7. And yeah, you could do that, but computers are extremely bad at shooting. Their attack bonus is equal to their tier. At level 20, your computer attacks with a bonus of +10 which will pretty much only hit on a natural 20.
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Since an Exocortex is a computer, couldn't it be setup with a control module to control your weapon?The Exocortex isn't a computer, but your Custom Rig becomes one at level 7. And yeah, you could do that, but computers are extremely bad at shooting. Their attack bonus is equal to their tier. At level 20, your computer attacks with a bonus of +10 which will pretty much only hit on a natural 20.
You're thinking too small. Why have it controlling a piddly soldier-sized gun?
Give it a control module to your Starship and have it make attack runs with the starship weapons! Crappy to-hit doesn't penalize them because they function as hazards, which means they have their own to-hit and damage table (plus you get to do something like that scene from Thor: Ragnarok where she turned the ship guns on the scavengers).
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How does an Exocortex hack anything when it only has Standard Actions, and hacking requires at least a Full Action each round?
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Since an Exocortex is a computer, couldn't it be setup with a control module to control your weapon?The Exocortex isn't a computer, but your Custom Rig becomes one at level 7. And yeah, you could do that, but computers are extremely bad at shooting. Their attack bonus is equal to their tier. At level 20, your computer attacks with a bonus of +10 which will pretty much only hit on a natural 20.
Harrying and Covering Fire. Both require AC 15; a tier 10 computer can hit that most of the time. For having a"free" action, a 75% chance of granting +2 circumstance is pretty good. Maybe not the most optimal, but not negligible.