[Slipperychicken]

So the cyberware scanner and MAD scanner seem to be very similar in terms of lore function, detecting weapons and metal objects. However, in 5e at least they seem to have divergent rules. I'm struggling a bit to figure out what their niches are, beyond giving me multiple chances to find the same stuff.

I'm having a similar confusion with ultrasound, motion sensors, and radar sensors. They all seem to be getting at the same general idea, but I feel there must be a reason that they're considered separate functions.

Help?

[Tym Jalynsfein]

While they are all capable of detecting many of the same things, They are all countered with different things.
Security Redundancy in areas not potentially covered is a good thing, on the security side of things. Sucks for the runner, though. 

[adzling]

There is a table on page 362 that shows you how to detect weapons and cyberware with a Cyberware scanner.

MAD scanners only detect metal; most cyberware is primarily plastic and advanced composites with little metal present. So MAD scanners are primarily used to detect weaponry like guns and knives etc.

Ultrasound, Motion Sensors and Radar all use different sensing technologies that have unique advantages and weaknesses.
Read the rules for each and you'll understand why they differ.

So the cyberware scanner and MAD scanner seem to be very similar in terms of lore function, detecting weapons and metal objects. However, in 5e at least they seem to have divergent rules. I'm struggling a bit to figure out what their niches are, beyond giving me multiple chances to find the same stuff.

I'm having a similar confusion with ultrasound, motion sensors, and radar sensors. They all seem to be getting at the same general idea, but I feel there must be a reason that they're considered separate functions.

Help?

[Adamo1618]

This seems like a job for Complex Action.

[firebug]

MAD stands for "Magnetic Anomaly Detector".  As it would be very problematic if cyberware was generally magnetic, it's very likely the construction of it avoids that.  From what I understand about chromium, if it is actually used in cyberware, it has weird properties and isn't "fully magnetic".  Specifics aside though, it's believable enough that cybernetics aren't magnetic.  For the record they also aren't ferrous either (no punching a Wendigo with your cyberlimb and hoping to do extra damage) as, if they were, they'd rust and your body fluids would do a number on them.

[Slipperychicken]

MAD stands for "Magnetic Anomaly Detector".  As it would be very problematic if cyberware was generally magnetic, it's very likely the construction of it avoids that.  From what I understand about chromium, if it is actually used in cyberware, it has weird properties and isn't "fully magnetic".  Specifics aside though, it's believable enough that cybernetics aren't magnetic.  For the record they also aren't ferrous either (no punching a Wendigo with your cyberlimb and hoping to do extra damage) as, if they were, they'd rust and your body fluids would do a number on them.

Chrome flesh does make frequent references to cyber-augmentations as "metal", though I'm not sure whether that's a euphemism or reference to actual metals involved. There's also the question of other non-ferrous things disturbing magnetic fields.

Restricting MAD scanners from finding non-obvious cyberware does make sense from the perspective of differentiating them from cyberware scanners. MAD scanners easily find metallic weapons and objects without noting location or type, while cyberware scanners find nearly everything but have a slightly harder time of it. And the MAD scanner's description does not mention cyberware, so I think it's safe to say that's how they're meant to work.

[firebug]

Chrome flesh does make frequent references to cyber-augmentations as "metal", though I'm not sure whether that's a euphemism or reference to actual metals involved. There's also the question of other non-ferrous things disturbing magnetic fields.

There's lots of non-magnetic metals too though, like copper, aluminum, zinc, and titanium.  So being metal doesn't mean it'd be found by an MAD.

[Novocrane]

There's also mention of metal in cyber guns only being incorporated into the cyber arm structure. Leads me to think that cyber arms (and possibly some other cyber) contain metals detectable by MAD scanning - cyberware scanners are going to detect both metallic and non-metallic materials regardless.

For extra concealment, cyberguns are built from mostly non-metallic compounds, and any metallic parts are incorporated into the (cyber) arm’s structure.

[Reaver]

Chrome flesh does make frequent references to cyber-augmentations as "metal", though I'm not sure whether that's a euphemism or reference to actual metals involved. There's also the question of other non-ferrous things disturbing magnetic fields.

There's lots of non-magnetic metals too though, like copper, aluminum, zinc, and titanium.  So being metal doesn't mean it'd be found by an MAD.

yes, but all those metals have very unique conductivity values and can be detected by a low EM field....

More then one way to spot metals then just if it is magnetic or not.

[Adamo1618]

The rules say you can find weapons, no mention about anything else. If they could detect augmentations, that would probably be mentioned.

[Novocrane]

a single hit detects any ferrous-metal weapons or objects

[Reaver]

a single hit detects any ferrous-metal weapons or objects

In this case they are probably still talking about weapons. But along the stabby/bashy kind.

[Shaidar]

I'm having a similar confusion with ultrasound, motion sensors, and radar sensors. They all seem to be getting at the same general idea, but I feel there must be a reason that they're considered separate functions.

As for these Motion sensors use High-Frequency, not quite Ultra High, sound to detect motion. Where as Ultrasound sensors use Ultra High-Frequency sound to generate 3D images. And the Radar Sensors use Radio Frequencies to generate 3D images with indications of what the materials used to construct the imaged item.