General question is can a Mechanic have his drone act as an extra Pilot for a Mech?
I would say no at the beginning since a Drone only has a single action but as the AI increases, could they be used to give an extra action for a Mech?
I am not too fussed on a Drone having no Pilot skill or things along that nature, purely on the system element of giving that one extra action
There's a small rule about Starship AIs, which is a much advanced and rarer form of Virtual Intelligence, behaving like actual NPCs. They can literally act like a physical crew member.
If one such AI would inhabit a mech, it could act of the required 2nd operator.
There's a small rule about Starship AIs, which is a much advanced and rarer form of Virtual Intelligence, behaving like actual NPCs. They can literally act like a physical crew member.
If one such AI would inhabit a mech, it could act of the required 2nd operator.
Well, yes, perhaps, but that isn't a drone. So, a drone still can't pilot a mecha.
( And even if a drone could pilot a mecha, it couldn't actually *help* until and unless the Mechanic hit level 20, since IIRC that's the only point where a drone can take a full action separate from its Mechanic. )
Well, my point is if a drone cannot pilot a mech, what are your alternatives ;)
Well, my point is if a drone cannot pilot a mech, what are your alternatives ;)There's a small rule about Starship AIs, which is a much advanced and rarer form of Virtual Intelligence, behaving like actual NPCs. They can literally act like a physical crew member.
If one such AI would inhabit a mech, it could act of the required 2nd operator.
Well, yes, perhaps, but that isn't a drone. So, a drone still can't pilot a mecha.
( And even if a drone could pilot a mecha, it couldn't actually *help* until and unless the Mechanic hit level 20, since IIRC that's the only point where a drone can take a full action separate from its Mechanic. )
The other players.
The other players.Well, my point is if a drone cannot pilot a mech, what are your alternatives ;)There's a small rule about Starship AIs, which is a much advanced and rarer form of Virtual Intelligence, behaving like actual NPCs. They can literally act like a physical crew member.
If one such AI would inhabit a mech, it could act of the required 2nd operator.
Well, yes, perhaps, but that isn't a drone. So, a drone still can't pilot a mecha.
( And even if a drone could pilot a mecha, it couldn't actually *help* until and unless the Mechanic hit level 20, since IIRC that's the only point where a drone can take a full action separate from its Mechanic. )
Fair point... if your players are willing to share :P
Look, given the MP limitation per tier, it's much safer and more reliable to have at least 2 playable operators per mech of any size. You could get something decent with a one-pilot Huge mech, but even then, it's gonna be weaker. I guess the rules encourage cooperation and resource sharing ;) or the devs are huge fans of Pacific Rim and their two-pilot Jeagers XD
The other players.Well, my point is if a drone cannot pilot a mech, what are your alternatives ;)There's a small rule about Starship AIs, which is a much advanced and rarer form of Virtual Intelligence, behaving like actual NPCs. They can literally act like a physical crew member.
If one such AI would inhabit a mech, it could act of the required 2nd operator.
Well, yes, perhaps, but that isn't a drone. So, a drone still can't pilot a mecha.
( And even if a drone could pilot a mecha, it couldn't actually *help* until and unless the Mechanic hit level 20, since IIRC that's the only point where a drone can take a full action separate from its Mechanic. )
Fair point... if your players are willing to share :P
Look, given the MP limitation per tier, it's much safer and more reliable to have at least 2 playable operators per mech of any size. You could get something decent with a one-pilot Huge mech, but even then, it's gonna be weaker. I guess the rules encourage cooperation and resource sharing ;) or the devs are huge fans of Pacific Rim and their two-pilot Jeagers XD
I agree, the mech rules encourage the pacific rim/power rangers fantasy far more than the battlemech/robotech/macross fantasy... but there's a choice there in the rules design and they picked one over the other.
I think the cooperative nature makes more sense overall for the nature of starfinder.
Though it's not great if you want to add the other genres to your game.
To be honest, the multi pilot element depends on your group. If you have a group who can actually work together then yeah it works. If you have a glory hog, then it falls apart in my mind. I wouldn't want to be the second to someone like that or make one of my players do it.
Since people are speaking about the multi pilot element, how would you do it to make it fair on both players? little suggestions or compromises?
Main one I have is alternate the main control, go down the line with who get that extra move action
To be honest, the multi pilot element depends on your group. If you have a group who can actually work together then yeah it works. If you have a glory hog, then it falls apart in my mind. I wouldn't want to be the second to someone like that or make one of my players do it.
Since people are speaking about the multi pilot element, how would you do it to make it fair on both players? little suggestions or compromises?
Main one I have is alternate the main control, go down the line with who get that extra move action
I always see it as a pool of actions both players can do, like one can attack and the other can move in one round, and they switch in the second round.
The thing is that depending on their skills, one operator might be better at some actions than the other.
I agree, the mech rules encourage the pacific rim/power rangers fantasy far more than the battlemech/robotech/macross fantasy... but there's a choice there in the rules design and they picked one over the other.
I think the cooperative nature makes more sense overall for the nature of starfinder.
Though it's not great if you want to add the other genres to your game.
Well, they kinda already offer some alternatives:
- A Mech's bulky size will limit how it can be carried. That is extra luggage in your PCs' own primary starship.- Large terrestrial vehicles can transform into Huge Mechs, and they can THEN assemble into a bigger one. 2 to 6 Large vehicles can be easier to haul around.
- Powered Armors, as high-leveled as they can be, are still usable for Mech replacements, and yes, you could have 4 to 6 PCs piloting a Gargantuan Mech fighting your Big Bad wearing a Warmaster's Harness (also Gargantuan)
- Mech weapons do NOT follow the same rules as regular weapons. Back to my Mech-vs-Powered-Armor example, the Armor can come out as more versatile... or deadlier depending on the weapons attached, and that's WITHOUT considering that since The Liberation of Locus-1, both Light and Heavy Weapon mounts can be added to armors of any kind.
When operated by multiple characters, Mechs are simply more mobile and can take more actions, since everyone can pitch in. Then again, starships require a crew and combat has everyone on board getting their hands dirty, so ;)
Maybe to revisit the topic, the best way to have a drone as an assistant pilot... is to have a Small SRO acting as your little robotic buddy ^^;
Those can be PCs or even NPCs, but then it's all about how your GM sees. I mean, if a bunch of non-playable SROs are willing to assist players in operating their mechs, that can work, but... do you have the GM controlling all SROs, or you have the PCs controlling both operators?