Shadowrun

Shadowrun General => Gear => Topic started by: Desiani on <03-11-17/1942:13>

Title: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: Desiani on <03-11-17/1942:13>
Which of these two would you use? And is a rigger specializing in Cybered animals a good idea? :p
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: firebug on <03-11-17/2014:26>
As a PC?  Neither, because neither is cost effective.  You can't even begin the game with the CAST implanted in something, even with Restricted Gear.

In a more general sense, CAST seems the better choice.  It's more humane (for those who care), and allows for more choice in augmentation (for those who don't).  Even assuming you don't mind the cost (Essence and nuyen) for Stirrup interface, there's a lot of biodrones who won't need it.  Spying (one of the best uses for biodrones) isn't something you really need a huge amount of initiative for, and if you're jumped in, the skillwires part of it isn't necessary.

Flavor-wise, the Stirrup implant might give the rigger a more direct feel of what it's like to be the animal too, which is something some characters would look for.  Being a drone is pretty badass, but being able to be a wolf or a tiger is pretty damn cool too.  Who needs the Shapechange spell?

However, specializing in biodrones is a poor choice.  Even the book spells out that they aren't very effective outside of their very small niche, require more upkeep than drones, and elicit a very poor reaction in a lot of people.  The last two might not actually come up in your game (as they actually cost less than drones, since they heal naturally, and you might not care what people think) but the first will come up a lot.  Mounting a weapon on a biodrone is a lot harder to do; flying biodrones are more fragile than normal drones and basically can't house weaponry.  And it's a hell of a lot more expensive to buy augmentations for a biodrone than to buy mods for a normal drone.
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: Blue Rose on <03-11-17/2316:19>
Flavor-wise, the Stirrup implant might give the rigger a more direct feel of what it's like to be the animal too, which is something some characters would look for.  Being a drone is pretty badass, but being able to be a wolf or a tiger is pretty damn cool too.  Who needs the Shapechange spell?
Who says you're installing it in an animal?

In a world with bunraku, you know there are alternate uses for that technology.
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: firebug on <03-12-17/0019:04>
You'd need specialized Stirrup Interface to make it work for a human.  Specially made to fit the human body, and special software for humans...  Not saying it's impossible, but...  It'd draw some serious attention.

(me taking a joke too seriously)
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: Mirikon on <03-12-17/0949:50>
Proteus has been using that for the public face of their board for YEARS.
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: Desiani on <03-12-17/1454:30>
Essentially, the background of the rigger was that he grew up in an environment where Tech was illegal, sort of like a hippie California cult. His life revolved around animals to an extreme extent.

Once he left the enclave he found new and wondrous things. He still had his super ingrained love for animals and distrusted 'drones' but wanted to get into rigging for the experience. It was, to him, similar to herd animals... just drones instead.

I just like the idea of buying a giant tiger and soupping it up with stuff. Maybe a turtle too.
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: firebug on <03-12-17/1515:41>
That doesn't follow at all though.  Animals don't handle augmentation well, mentally.  It's more or less abuse (as the animal cannot really have a say in whether or not they undergo this extensive surgery).  Someone who actually loved animals, especially someone who was raised in that sort of environment, would feel extremely guilty as they saw the animal become more and more robotic, physically and mentally (best case scenario), or just go berserk and need to be put down.  I suggest you read Howling Shadows more thoroughly for a character concept.

Not to imply you shouldn't do that idea, just saying the backstory doesn't quite match.
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: Desiani on <03-12-17/1659:43>
That doesn't follow at all though.  Animals don't handle augmentation well, mentally.  It's more or less abuse (as the animal cannot really have a say in whether or not they undergo this extensive surgery).  Someone who actually loved animals, especially someone who was raised in that sort of environment, would feel extremely guilty as they saw the animal become more and more robotic, physically and mentally (best case scenario), or just go berserk and need to be put down.  I suggest you read Howling Shadows more thoroughly for a character concept.

Not to imply you shouldn't do that idea, just saying the backstory doesn't quite match.

Yea I just reread it and I was like wtf lol. So does CASTS let you 'jump in' the animal? From the description I know you can AR control it. The system makes an attack order make the animal thinks it is prey, etc.
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: firebug on <03-12-17/1747:53>
I believe it does let you jump into it; it mentions it works like a "rigger interface".  Plus I believe the Orientation Goad fills the role for "only AR control".
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: Mirikon on <03-12-17/2202:44>
CASTS doesn't allow you to jump in. That would be the stirrup interface. CASTS is a different control system that basically allows you to remote control a living creature (though acting against the creature's instincts may cause problems).
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: Adamo1618 on <03-13-17/0615:43>
Is there a  CASTS implant for metahumans? Disturbing but useful.
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: MDMann on <03-13-17/1005:07>
Coming to a bunraku parlour near you.

Where the joy boys (and girls) not only have skillsofts to make them ninja warriors on your run but jumped in riggers and controlled animal's (you don't want to ask what they're doing there) can also join the party.
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: Ghost Rigger on <03-13-17/1026:14>
and controlled animal's (you don't want to ask what they're doing there)
Bunraku parlor catering to shapeshifters?
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: firebug on <03-13-17/1449:43>
CASTS doesn't allow you to jump in. That would be the stirrup interface. CASTS is a different control system that basically allows you to remote control a living creature (though acting against the creature's instincts may cause problems).

Quote
Computer-assisted  sensory  translation  (CAST)  is  the equivalent of a rigger interface for biodrones. It allows the rigger to jump in to a biodrone and not only control them through AR commands but experience the animal’s senses through a wireless connection.

You are incorrect.

Is there a  CASTS implant for metahumans? Disturbing but useful.

Technically it could all be installed (it's mostly just simsense and a simrig) but it wouldn't really work cleanly.  Humans are able to resist their instincts significantly more than animals, and while at first someone may not question why they're smelling something or what not that isn't there, eventually they could catch on, and have the option of turning off their wireless stuff or some other defense.  Basically, any of the subtle manipulations you could do to screw with someone could theoretically be done by just hacking someone's simsense and social manipulation.  No control strong enough for anything tactical though.

That said, someone scared out of their mind, pure fight-or-flight, never-been-in-a-gunfight-before might be susceptible to stuff like "that area over there feels warm and smells nice and isn't where the sound is coming from".  It'd be a purely narrative thing though...  Not something that happens at most tables.

A human-made Orientation Goad though?  That could direct someone in an awful, disorienting way that would probably crumple their ability to understand what's going on.  "Oh shit I'm falling to the right somehow-- Now that way, jesus--  Oh thank god it sto--  Now gravity is pulling me forwards!"  They'd probably vomit.
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: Pap Renvela on <03-18-17/0056:42>
You're best bet for a human would be to get a hold of someone that's a Blank Slate.
Of course,you'd probably need to be amoral to do it.
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: Tym Jalynsfein on <03-20-17/1416:44>
Amoral Shadowrunners? Who would have thought.... 8)
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: Blue Rose on <03-20-17/1636:09>
You're best bet for a human would be to get a hold of someone that's a Blank Slate.
Of course,you'd probably need to be amoral to do it.
At that point, we're talking less "amoral" more "mustache-twirling villain."
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: RowanTheFox on <03-20-17/1726:14>
You're best bet for a human would be to get a hold of someone that's a Blank Slate.
Of course,you'd probably need to be amoral to do it.
At that point, we're talking less "amoral" more "mustache-twirling villain."

Evil does not need a reason, but it usually has a goal.

Unsurprisingly, the same can be said for madness.
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: MDMann on <03-21-17/0937:56>
Or success.
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: firebug on <03-21-17/1013:23>
Realistically though, this all depends on why you'd want to do it.

If it's for combat, just use an anthrodrone.  It'll have its weaknesses, of course, but a properly piloted hotsim anthrodrone wearing normal armor (which Wakshaani has stated can indeed be worn, it just doesn't stack with the drone's base armor) can be hard to hurt and have a lot of Initiative, while having a very high dice pool for most actions.  And, you know, be waaaaay cheaper and potentially even legal.

If it's social infiltration...  I'd say it's a tie between an anthrodrone with Realistic Features 4 and a rigged human.  Though...  The drone failing means people realize its a drone and getting pissed.  If people realize it's basically a meat puppet, oh god will they react badly.  Expect HTR, and civilians having nightmares.  Not that you'd be bothered by that, you monster.
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: Mirikon on <03-22-17/2103:17>
The main benefit of a metahuman meatpuppet drone over an anthromorphic drone is that the biodrone passes astral scans. No matter how good the Realistic Features, it is an autosuccess for someone looking on the Astral to see that it is a drone, not a person.

And it is hard to tell that the metahuman biodrone's nature if the controller is constantly jumped in, such as if an AI is using an elf's implanted commlink as their home node.
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: firebug on <03-23-17/0532:20>
That's true.  Even a heavily augmented biodrone still is (technically) a living creature.  And there's an idea for you...  An AI living inside an RCC or something always jumped into a metahuman biodrone.  Who needs CFD?  Let's do this drek analog (not really)!
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: Mirikon on <03-23-17/1151:55>
Heh. I had this idea back in 4e, before the nano-troubles were even whispered about in the books. But I could never find the nuyen cost for a metahuman biodrone.
Title: Re: CASTS or Stirrup Interface?
Post by: Novocrane on <03-23-17/1950:07>
About as much as I contact, I'd say.