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Why Wired Reflexes

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ZeConster

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« Reply #15 on: <04-03-14/0854:03> »
There is, of course, the slight issue that the description of Wired Reflexes is phrased in such a way that one could argue that RAW it's allowed to stack with the Increase Reflexes spell:
While Synaptic boosters "cannot be combined with any other form of Reaction or Initiative enhancement", the restriction for Wired Reflexes is that they "are incompatible with augmentations that affect Reaction or Initiative". On the magical side, while the Improved Reflexes power  says "the increase cannot be combined with other technological or magical increases  to Initiative", the Increase Reflexes spell doesn't say it's incompatible with anything except itself.
Does this mean Wired Reflexes and the Increase Reflexes can stack, since neither says it's incompatible with the other, or is this simply another phrasing mistake?
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Csjarrat

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« Reply #16 on: <04-03-14/0920:52> »
Wired are decent choices, but at the 150k for rating 2 and a whopping 3 ESS, you might as well pony up the extra cash and go for the Synaptic 2, saving you a massive 2 ESS to spend on other useful stuff like dermal plating/orthoskin/cyber eyes etc
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martinchaen

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« Reply #17 on: <04-03-14/1051:25> »
On the other hand, Alpha grade Wired Reflexes Rating 1 (10R) and Used grade Reaction Enhancers 3 (11R) is a decent deal for a starting character as well; +4 REA and +1d6 Initiative Dice for 76050 nuyen and 2.725 Essence, although you do leave yourself vulnerable to hacking this way.

By comparison, Synaptic Booster Rating 1 is 0.5 Essence and 95000; it can't be detected by scanners or hacked, but you also lose out on 3 REA.

For a Rigger, I'd stick with the Reaction Enhancers on their own, purely for the added driver skills.

Csjarrat

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« Reply #18 on: <04-03-14/1052:47> »
On the other hand, Alpha grade Wired Reflexes Rating 1 (10R) and Used grade Reaction Enhancers 3 (11R) is a decent deal for a starting character as well; +4 REA and +1d6 Initiative Dice for 76050 nuyen and 2.725 Essence, although you do leave yourself vulnerable to hacking this way.

By comparison, Synaptic Booster Rating 1 is 0.5 Essence and 95000; it can't be detected by scanners or hacked, but you also lose out on 3 REA.

For a Rigger, I'd stick with the Reaction Enhancers on their own, purely for the added driver skills.
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Namikaze

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« Reply #19 on: <04-03-14/1057:40> »
For a Rigger, I'd stick with the Reaction Enhancers on their own, purely for the added driver skills.

So true.
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Xenon

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« Reply #20 on: <04-03-14/1438:42> »
Wr1 > sb1
Sb3 > wr3

Another advantage of wr is that they are compatible with magic and drugs. Sb are not.

Namikaze

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« Reply #21 on: <04-03-14/1443:39> »
Another advantage of wr is that they are compatible with magic and drugs. Sb are not.

This is probably something I missed, but why are Synaptic Boosters not compatible with drugs and/or magic?
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martinchaen

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« Reply #22 on: <04-03-14/1454:09> »
Quote from: SR5 p461
The synaptic booster cannot be combined with any other form of Reaction or Initiative enhancement.

Namikaze

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« Reply #23 on: <04-03-14/1503:34> »
Quote from: SR5 p461
The synaptic booster cannot be combined with any other form of Reaction or Initiative enhancement.

That makes sense.  I've always read that line as being identical to this one:

Quote from: SR5 p455
Wired Reflexes are incompatible with augmentations that affect Reaction and Initiative.

A strict interpretation would indicate that Synaptic Boosters aren't compatible with drugs or magic, while Wired Reflexes are.  However, I have always thought that drugs and magic "buffs" counted as augmentations.  Your interpretation makes more sense though.
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martinchaen

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« Reply #24 on: <04-03-14/1520:30> »
Yeah, that's part of the problem; the terms "augmentation" and "enhancement" are used interchangeably in the core book, with only certain items/spells having restrictions.

Wired Reflexes and Synaptic Boosters are good examples of discrepancies created as a result of this inconsistent use.

Michael Chandra

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« Reply #25 on: <04-03-14/1556:51> »
This is probably something I missed, but why are Synaptic Boosters not compatible with drugs and/or magic?
It's a rule-lawyer thing, and truth be told I don't see any plausible reason for it, so suspect it's just a matter of ill-phrasing.

By the way, Augmentations was stated to be solely Ware by Aaron. Magic and drugs don't count.
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martinchaen

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« Reply #26 on: <04-03-14/1604:19> »
This is probably something I missed, but why are Synaptic Boosters not compatible with drugs and/or magic?
It's a rule-lawyer thing, and truth be told I don't see any plausible reason for it, so suspect it's just a matter of ill-phrasing.

By the way, Augmentations was stated to be solely Ware by Aaron. Magic and drugs don't count.
Oh, good, I missed that Aaron has provided a reading of "Augmentations"; what about enhancements, though?

Kincaid

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« Reply #27 on: <04-03-14/1654:31> »
This is probably something I missed, but why are Synaptic Boosters not compatible with drugs and/or magic?
It's a rule-lawyer thing, and truth be told I don't see any plausible reason for it, so suspect it's just a matter of ill-phrasing.

By the way, Augmentations was stated to be solely Ware by Aaron. Magic and drugs don't count.

Given the consistency (or lack thereof) of phrasing throughout the book, I'm in complete agreement.
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Xenon

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« Reply #28 on: <04-03-14/1718:32> »
in this case the book is actually pretty consistent (for once).
probably over 20 references to "augmentation"
...and iirc they all talk about cyberware or bioware (and not magic).

Kincaid

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« Reply #29 on: <04-03-14/1950:05> »
Yeah, the problem word isn't augmentation, it's enhancement.  Specifically, "the synaptic booster cannot be combined with other forms of Reaction or Initiative enhancement" vs. "wired reflexes cannot be combined with augmentations that affect Reaction or Initiative."  Drugs and magic obviously aren't augmentations, so they stack with wires, but "enhancement" is a little for vague, so one could read that they do not stack with boosters.
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