[falar]

ok then if I am increasing armor Im just paying for the increase not the total same with realistic features?

In MP, yes. In nuyen, you pay for the final. The book is pretty clear on this.

[UnLimiTeD]

I'm not sure if you pay for every point or every 3, though. Wakshaani said he had meant to clarify that. I'm willing to wait until next month for that info.

[Herr Brackhaus]

I would go with the following for a less obviously illegal drone (using the drone mod rules). This is the new, unmodified Roto-Drone:

NAME	HANDL	SPEED	ACCEL	BODY	ARMOR	PILOT	SENS	AVAIL	COST	REF
MCT-Nissan Roto-Drone (Large)	4	2R	1	4(4)	6	3	3	6	8,000¥	p. 466, SR5

So we've got 4 mod points to start, and an additional 3 for weapon mods. It's already got decent handling and body, and with a long-range weapon it shouldn't have to evade too many shots or soak too many hits so we'll leave that where it is.

We'll use a free mod point to upgrade speed to 3R for (Speed 3 * Body 4 * 200¥) 2,400¥ at Avail 6, and do the same for Acceleration 2 for (Acceleration 2 * Body 4 * 200¥) 1,600¥ at avail 8.

Just to be safe, we'll upgrade Armor from 6 to 12 for 1 MP (6 to 9 for free, 9 to 12 costs 1 MP), for a cost of (AV 12 * Body 4 * 200¥) 9,600¥ and avail 12R. Since Body 4 * 3 = 12 we're not suffering any reductions in handling or speed.

If the drone will be used by a rigger one might consider sensor upgrades, but as a fire support drone operating autonomously it can do just fine with the accuracy of the weapon, so we'll leave this alone.

We do want a smarter pilot, so we'll get Pilot 4 for 3,200¥ at avail 12R.

This gets us the following:

NAME	HANDL	SPEED	ACCEL	BODY	ARMOR	PILOT	SENS	AVAIL	COST	REF
MCT-Nissan Roto-Drone (Large)	4	3R	2	4(3)	12	4	3	12R	24,800¥	p. 466, SR5

This leaves us 6 MPs for weapon mounts, which is enough for a Large (4MP), Pop-Out (1MP) Mount with a second ammunition bin (1MP), for a total of ((4MP * 800¥) + (5 MP * 100¥) + 50¥) 3,750¥, and we'll mount one of the Sporting Rifles from Gun Heaven as we can't technically fit a sniper rifle, and we want a range advantage. My choice would be a Springfield M1A for a good combination of power, ammo, and AP, or a Marlin X71 if you want more AP at the cost of less ammunition. Add a smartsoft and a targeting 4 autosoft and you've got a fast and relatively maneuverable drone that can a) provide fire support from up to 500m away and still roll 10 dice on the attack with two take aim actions, b) switch from non-lethal to lethal ammunition on short notice, and c) appear like a legal drone for all intents and purposes without close scrutiny, all for less than 35k (25k if you don't upgrade the AV).

Slaving the drone to an RCC running targeting 6 for another 2 dice, and you could always fit an assault rifle for suppressive fire options instead.

[Rooks]

Still going to say Paladin is a close 2nd reduce armor add in a weapon mount

[Gratuitous Boom]

I have a few rather unusual questions. Rigger 5.0 specifically states that an anthropomorphic drone "can even use some metahuman equipment, such as clothing, weapons, or tools." page 145.
Accidently posted this in the Errata thread I was reading.

One question is whether an anthropomorphic drone can be loaded with a second maneuvering autosoft and pilot a vehicle? Instead of upgrading the pilot autosoft for each of your vehicles you would just upgrade the anthro drone and reslot autosofts as needed. I'm leaning towards 'no' on this one because in universe I believe the maneuvering autosofts would be programmed towards pilot autosofts that are 'jumped in' to the vehicle in question.

On a similar note, would a rigger who Is jumped into an anthro drone be able to pilot a vehicle through the drone? I'll elaborate. Suppose I'm running a technorigger whose speciality is anthropomorphic walkers. I jump into an anthro drone, but because my persona merges with the drone's device icon I can't benefit from a machine sprite's Diagnostics power. However, if I use Diagnostics on a second walker (a vehicle modded for Secondary Propulsion: Walker for example) I could then use both the bonuses from the Mind Over Machine echo and the Diagnostics power (in theory anyway). Though you'd be piloting the second walker in AR rather than VR I think.

[Raven2049]

I would go with the following for a less obviously illegal drone (using the drone mod rules). This is the new, unmodified Roto-Drone:

NAME	HANDL	SPEED	ACCEL	BODY	ARMOR	PILOT	SENS	AVAIL	COST	REF
MCT-Nissan Roto-Drone (Large)	4	2R	1	4(4)	6	3	3	6	8,000¥	p. 466, SR5

So we've got 4 mod points to start, and an additional 3 for weapon mods. It's already got decent handling and body, and with a long-range weapon it shouldn't have to evade too many shots or soak too many hits so we'll leave that where it is.

We'll use a free mod point to upgrade speed to 3R for (Speed 3 * Body 4 * 200¥) 2,400¥ at Avail 6, and do the same for Acceleration 2 for (Acceleration 2 * Body 4 * 200¥) 1,600¥ at avail 8.

Just to be safe, we'll upgrade Armor from 6 to 12 for 1 MP (6 to 9 for free, 9 to 12 costs 1 MP), for a cost of (AV 12 * Body 4 * 200¥) 9,600¥ and avail 12R. Since Body 4 * 3 = 12 we're not suffering any reductions in handling or speed.

If the drone will be used by a rigger one might consider sensor upgrades, but as a fire support drone operating autonomously it can do just fine with the accuracy of the weapon, so we'll leave this alone.

We do want a smarter pilot, so we'll get Pilot 4 for 3,200¥ at avail 12R.

This gets us the following:

NAME	HANDL	SPEED	ACCEL	BODY	ARMOR	PILOT	SENS	AVAIL	COST	REF
MCT-Nissan Roto-Drone (Large)	4	3R	2	4(3)	12	4	3	12R	24,800¥	p. 466, SR5

This leaves us 6 MPs for weapon mounts, which is enough for a Large (4MP), Pop-Out (1MP) Mount with a second ammunition bin (1MP), for a total of ((4MP * 800¥) + (5 MP * 100¥) + 50¥) 3,750¥, and we'll mount one of the Sporting Rifles from Gun Heaven as we can't technically fit a sniper rifle, and we want a range advantage. My choice would be a Springfield M1A for a good combination of power, ammo, and AP, or a Marlin X71 if you want more AP at the cost of less ammunition. Add a smartsoft and a targeting 4 autosoft and you've got a fast and relatively maneuverable drone that can a) provide fire support from up to 500m away and still roll 10 dice on the attack with two take aim actions, b) switch from non-lethal to lethal ammunition on short notice, and c) appear like a legal drone for all intents and purposes without close scrutiny, all for less than 35k (25k if you don't upgrade the AV).

Slaving the drone to an RCC running targeting 6 for another 2 dice, and you could always fit an assault rifle for suppressive fire options instead.

emphasis mine, where does that say you cant fit one? the Heavy weapon mount specifically says sniper rifles IIRC is that a limit to the pop out mount?

[Herr Brackhaus]

Raven
Using the optional drone modification rules, weapon mounts intended for drones have different classifications.

Check the drone chapter of rigger 5.

[Gratuitous Boom]

Why not use a blow-away panel? You could then put on a huge weapon mount. Sure it costs 125¥ to replace each time you use it, but the extra firepower would probably be worth it, especially if you're going to jump into the drone. 'Course the blow-away panel is more noticeable. Maybe you could use forgery or artisan to improve its concealment.

[Herr Brackhaus]

Personal preference, mostly. I like the functionality of the pop out turret.

[gradivus]

Why not use a blow-away panel? You could then put on a huge weapon mount. Sure it costs 125¥ to replace each time you use it, but the extra firepower would probably be worth it, especially if you're going to jump into the drone. 'Course the blow-away panel is more noticeable. Maybe you could use forgery or artisan to improve its concealment.

What Herr Brackhaus wrote and I'm a cheap old bastard- them 125 nuyen a pop add up young fella.

[Raven2049]

Raven
Using the optional drone modification rules, weapon mounts intended for drones have different classifications.

Check the drone chapter of rigger 5.

Err your right I was confusing heavy for huge. Too many H's.

But still, why can't you put a huge in this bad boy and get your sniper...(I'm not well versed on the mod rules yet.... Still reading and playing)

[Rooks]

so wait whats the cost of a weapon mount not blown away or popped up I dont seem to recall a price listing for that, I thought the cost was for the panel that hides the mount with respect to the blow away mount

[Herr Brackhaus]

Err your right I was confusing heavy for huge. Too many H's.

But still, why can't you put a huge in this bad boy and get your sniper...(I'm not well versed on the mod rules yet.... Still reading and playing)

You could. Reduce body by 1 and you've got the MP you'd need. Sniper Rifles are significantly more expensive, though, which means that if the drone does get wrecked you're now looking at a bigger loss. I like affordable yet useful, so the sporting rifles work well enough for me.

so wait whats the cost of a weapon mount not blown away or popped up I dont seem to recall a price listing for that, I thought the cost was for the panel that hides the mount with respect to the blow away mount

Under the optional drone mod rules a weapon mount costs (Mod Points) x 800¥. The blow away panel costs (Mod Points) x 25¥ and doesn't use a mod point, as well as 125¥ to replace the panel once used. The pop-out/under mount costs (Mod Points) x 100¥ and 1 mod point, and is reusable.

[Gratuitous Boom]

I wouldn't consider the weapon on a mount integral to the drone, just the weapon mount. Sure the weapon would probably be damaged but I would use a separate repair check with the repair rules from Run and Gun rather than including the weapon in the drone's total value for repair using the rules in Rigger 5.0. A little moe complicated but more realistic in my opinion.

[Galgano]

Does upgrading the pilot also take away from the MP? If I wanted to go from 2 to 4 would that cost 1 MP? I'm asking because although it is an attribute, you do get redirected to a software section.