Near Space of course comes with new equipment and such. And as such I have 2 questions...
One of those items being the Remote-Link Module (the hidden truth website).
Rather the quote the text I'll leave the link here. But to paraphrase, you can remote control a set of powered armor. The upgrade uses a 20 charge battery at a rate of 1/hour used. And can allow the armor to follow at a set distance up to 500ft away.
1) I cannot find rules text saying you can or cannot actively use an armor upgrade in a set of armor not being actively worn or used. So can this upgrade even be used? I know it says in the upgrade text that you can pilot armor that no creature is wearing so I assume the answer is the obvious one, that it of course works. But I can't find text saying one way or another if upgrades work when not being worn, so it's got me questioning and assuming this is a case where specific trumps general.
My thought process here is basically, could you set your armor to follow you, and also insert a backup generator into another open upgrade slot, and have it functionally charge batteries also? Since you're not wearing the armor, the backup generator seems like a "passive" upgrade, requiring no additional actions or user input, so the upgrade should function with or without someone actually using the armor. And since the armor is moving, it is powering the generator. Again, I can't find rules text saying that upgrades don't function without someone wearing their armor. (Of course, if you're not wearing it, you also can't use actions to hypothetically activate those flash blinders you installed, so there are limitations).
Assuming the answer to 1 doesn't make this upgrade useless... My second question pertains to the battery interaction here The upgrade makes no mention that it can be used while the power armor itself is powered down.
If you’re in armor that’s out of power, you are flat-footed and off-target, you don’t benefit from the armor’s Strength or damage, and you can’t attack with it or cause it to move. None of its mounted weapons (see below) or upgrades (see Armor Upgrades below) function, even if they have their own power sources.
This quote, from the powered armor rules text says that upgrades don't function if the powered armor battery is dead, but it doesn't mention if it's just off... I assume that they're treated as the same here though.
2) So... That information given, am I, sadly, correct in assuming that your powered armor must be running for the upgrade to work? Making use of the upgrade in a 1/minute power armor far less useful and practical than a 1/hour set? And consequently draining the armor's battery, potentially emptying it before you even make it to combat.
Which in my opinion limits it's usefulness a lot, but also makes sense. Which pretty much makes me even more so lean into the thought process that this upgrade gives you a set of mobile cover that can recharge your batteries without wasting your upgrade slots. Maybe even auto swap them with an automated loader(loaded with empty batteries) and a computer interface in the other 2 upgrade slots. But that'd certainly require a chat with your GM... And to be high level and wasted a decent chunk of change on a pretty odd "trick." It'd probably be better to fill any other open slots with backup generators too and just be sure to swap the batteries every so often.
Any other opinions or thoughts on the Remote-Link Module?
The upgrade says you pilot it, and can set the armor maintaining a set distance for no action on your part after the initial full round programming. And a computer interface could be link to fire an attached weapon every round (with no additional action cost from you) at appropriate targets, probably grab the manufacturers mod that lets you ignore your party to be safe. Then technically you just got a bodyguard that follows you everywhere and should only require a standard action from you to activate it's "defenses" via any computer with "minimal" costs involved.