[Tathal]

What does a rigger do in the game? Just control drones that can do a variety of things? What do people do with their riggers? What do you look for in a successful rigger?

[Mystic]

The Rigger is one of the most important assets in any team. Their jobs can include, but not limited to:

1) Transportation. Vehicle riggers are often the teams way in and out of a run, maybe under fire... The importance of this goes without saying.

2) Overwatch. This includes monitoring the team and the target, usually via drones. Where as the Hacker keeps an eye on the Matrix et al, the Rigger often watches the target and keeps tabs on what is going on when real-time eyes-on intell is needed. Better to lose a drone than a team member if a trap is sprung.

3) Support. As already stated, this includes infiltration when eyes-on intell is needed before or when a team goes in. It can also include direct fire support when things go south.

4) Technical. Need something fixed? Chances are any good rigger is also a decent mechanic/engineer and maybe can pass as a secondary gunsmith, armorer, and techie. And if they dont know this stuff (which is in my opinion a poor rigger), by nature of their jobs, they usually know someone who does. Gotta get their toys somewhere, eh?

Now, I've played several riggers. I tend to go for the general specialist rather than being a dedicated vehicle or drone rigger. I say, why not both? I usually try and have several vehicles for a variety of jobs. This includes one "main vehicle" that is part command vehicle, part fire support vehicle, drone carrier, and part getaway. Also good to have on hand are dedicated assault, getaway, and throwaway vehicles if you don't want to lose "your baby".

[CanRay]

Legwork and observation as well.  A lot of drones can be easily set out covertly for intel work.  A nice crawler with Gecko Tips and a Laser Microphone, and you can listen to a conversation across the street.  (I think they did this in one of the early novels, in fact.).  Even without the laser mic, just some observation is always good.

Communication set-ups are good for Riggers as well.  "This Old Drone" has a few blimps that are supposedly very common and can easily be set up as a secure communications network with some extra gear and a little hacker help.

Drones also have the advantage of being invisible in Astral Space (No soul, no emotions!), so if your target can only see in Astral...  You do the math.

Finally, Post-'Run Datawork:  Deckers/Hackers tend to be the software experts, but Riggers tend to know Encryption quite well themselves due to keeping their lines of communication to their drones intact, which means they are also trained in DEcryption which can be quite handy if that Paydata is locked up tighter than Lofwyr's recipe for Human-A-La-Ketchup.

[James McMurray]

Drones also have the advantage of being invisible in Astral Space (No soul, no emotions!), so if your target can only see in Astral...  You do the math.

Drones have no aura. That doesn't make them invisible. You still see the physical world when astrally projecting/perceiving, so you will still see the drones.

Granted, a spirit isn't likely to understand that "the moving thing without a soul" is a threat and should be reported to his master, but if it's something more technologically inclined then they'll certainly know something is up.

[CanRay]

Remind me again how intelligent Watcher Spirits are?  And how often they're used by low-Magic Magicians that are most likely to be working for a security company that isn't a AAA-Level? 

And, IIRC, the "Able to see both Material and Astral Planes at the same time" only works for Dual Natured, doesn't it?

Also, Ghouls.  Drones are also immune to HMHVV, which is a major bonus.  Just have a lot of industrial solvent ready to kill the virus D-E-D dead!

[Morg]

Drones have no aura. That doesn't make them invisible. You still see the physical world when astrally projecting/perceiving, so you will still see the drones.

Granted, a spirit isn't likely to understand that "the moving thing without a soul" is a threat and should be reported to his master, but if it's something more technologically inclined then they'll certainly know something is up.

In the astral Cyberware appears as black areas in the body and Bioware as discolored on the astral a drone is a void with what ever figment splashes of color left on it by the rigger that owns it kind of like a predator effect. if the rigger has an epic emotional attached to it then it will be visible. buildings appear more clearly because they have more people attaching emotional background count to it

[bigity]

No, it's like one-way glass.  Dual nature allows one to see both and interact with both planes.

Being an astral form you still see both planes, but can only affect the astral plane.

[TheBigD]

What does a rigger do in the game? Just control drones that can do a variety of things? What do people do with their riggers? What do you look for in a successful rigger?

In 4e, riggers are essentially hackers with a focus on drones/vehicles.

For my rigger characters, I try to always provide the means to get in and out of a 'Run.  A decently armored, decently fast vehicle with enough room for most or all of the group and their gear.  Usually a van of some type.  The character will have a few eyes in the sky, and a few more ready to follow the team in, as well as something big and heavy should the fit hit the shan.  I treat my riggers as a full support character, so I'll try to have a few skills that the party might not have, or I'll duplicate some skills as backup.

[KarmaInferno]

Also, when the crap really hits the fan, the Rigger often will be the one laying down heavy weapons fire to cover the retreat.





-k

[CanRay]

I thought that was the Ork with the Big Gun (AKA:  Target Number Two, right after "Geek the Mage first".).

[KarmaInferno]

Nah, the Ork is the one laying heavy weapons fire going INTO the run.

On the exit he's the unconscious one being dragged out.





-k

[savaze]

You don't need that ork when you're sporting one of these...

[CanRay]

You don't need that ork when you're sporting one of these...

Make sure you update the pilot on that baby.  It's got a logic error in code a mile wide!