|
Rules in question for discussion.
SFS Standard
Networked Android
Source Player Core pg. 43 Winter 2025
Your body was modified to network seamlessly with other tech creatures. You gain shortwave, allowing you to communicate wirelessly with any creatures within 30 feet, as long as they have shortwave or are a construct with the tech trait. This doesn't give any special access to their thoughts or programming and communicates no more information than normal speech would. You can attempt Computers checks to Hack systems, Combat Hack, create a Digital Diversion, Disable a Device, or Pick a Lock without a hacker's toolkit or free hand at a range of 30 feet.
Source Player Core pg. 225 Winter 2025
Prerequisites trained in Computers
You've learned how to hack using alternative methods. You can use Computers to Disable a Device or Hack a system using any computer, comm unit, or terminal instead of a hacking toolkit. If you're an expert in Computers and the equipment you use is at least 3rd level, you gain a +1 item bonus to Disable a Device or Hack.
Special If you have the Combat Hack or Digital Diversion skill feat, you can use this feat to Combat Hack or Create a Diversion without a hacking toolkit.
It seems like Networked Android is better than the Phreaker skill feat in every situation I can think of.
This comes up for androids since the Artificial Scion Android heritage seems strictly worse then networked android.
Can any of yall think of edge cases I missed?
Maybe there's some confusion? They both are functionally similar by allowing you to bypass needing a Hacker's Toolkit in one way or another and both apply their bypass to Combat Hack and Digital Diversion but otherwise...
Artificial Scion Android:
• Gain Trained in Computers.
• +1 Bonus if Expert and item level 3+ used.
Networked Android:
• Shortwave communications with creatures with shortwave or tech constructs
• 30' distance for a some Computers skill uses.
One gives you skill training and a bonus later on. The other gives you range, but no training, and no bonus. Artificial Scion actually seems the far better option in the campaign I'm running now.
It seems like Networked Android is better than the Phreaker skill feat in every situation I can think of.
OK.
Why wouldn't or shouldn't a heritage be strictly better than a level 1 skill feat?
You get one heritage choice. You get at least 10 opportunities to pick up a level 1 skill feat.
This comes up for androids since the Artificial Scion Android heritage seems strictly worse then networked android.
So pick Networked Android then?
There are some differences. Artificial Scion gives training in Computers. Which can be useful for a class that gets fewer skill training points or a character that needs a multitude of skills. Networked Android needs you to pay a skill training to get Computers in order to get full use out of the abilities.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
...
Whoa, we can probably pump the breaks a bit. It seems pretty obvious to me that they were comparing heritage to heritage and mistakenly viewed Networked Android as simply being exactly like Artificial Scion Android but better.
Even if so, "hey this choice is clearly always better, am I missing something," is a totally valid discussion to be had I feel.