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2 years ago ::
Jul 19, 2011 - 7:05AM
#1
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Date Joined:
Jul 13, 2004
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Can an astromech unit like a R2 pilot a starfighter on his own? One of my players wants to get Double Attack to make, well, two attacks with an x-wing cannons. I told him that piloting is a move action so he won't be able to take a full-round action except if the vehicle is stationary. He replied that the R2 can do the piloting while he shoots.
TBH, I cannot find any reasons not to allow it. The stock R2 (page 198) has Pilot as a trained skill, so he should be able to do so...
What about space transports? Will you allow it?
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2 years ago ::
Jul 19, 2011 - 9:35AM
#2
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The Scavengers' Guide to Droids has details of what the 'Droid Socket' in star fighters allows. With permission, or if the pilot is unconscious, a droid may pilot the vessel. We actually see this at least once, in Empire Strikes Back, when R2 brings the X-Wing to Luke on Hoth (after Luke destroys the AT-AT).
For Transports, if the vessel has a scomp link (also listed in SGtD), OR the droid has limbs to manipulate the standard controls, then yes, as long as they're trained in Pilot, or have a Heuristic Processor.
Winner of "You Make The... Contest #1: Starfighters"
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2 years ago ::
Jul 19, 2011 - 10:54AM
#3
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- Here be Dragons next 100 km
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For a semi-canonical example of the space transport version, in X-Wing Alliance your character's droid EmKay (a modified maintenance droid) serves as co-pilot when flying one of the family's corellian transports, taking over piloting duties if you man the guns, or operating the turret weapons if you're piloting. He's pretty good in both roles.
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2 years ago ::
Jul 19, 2011 - 12:00PM
#4
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Obi-Wan's astromech pilots his starfighter alone in ROTS while Obi-Wan stays behind on Utapau.
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2 years ago ::
Jul 20, 2011 - 1:48AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Jul 13, 2004
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Thank you all! I'll check Scavengers, seems it has all the info I need.
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2 years ago ::
Jul 20, 2011 - 7:17AM
#6
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While I have little issue with letting a droid pilot a starship I do run into two issues when it comes to the former "pilot" making attacks. The first, and probably bigger, issue is if the former pilot can fire pilot controlled weapons because he is no longer the actual pilot; I normally wouldn't say someone could act as gunner on a pilot controlled weapon when there is an actual pilot so trasfering the pilot role to a droid could/should also transfer weapon control. The second issue should actually be pretty clear, if you are not doing the piloting for a vehicle you do NOT get the +2 bonus that normally comes when making an attack as the pilot with a pilot controlled weapon.
For what it's worth I strongly discourage pilots from investing in attack actions that will require a full round if they want to use it in vehicles. Instead of Double Attack I would suggest he take Rapid Shot or perhaps Burst Fire if he wants to get more damage out of his vehicle's attacks.
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2 years ago ::
Jul 20, 2011 - 8:02AM
#7
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Date Joined:
Jan 28, 2006
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The Scavengers' Guide to Droids has details of what the 'Droid Socket' in star fighters allows. With permission, or if the pilot is unconscious, a droid may pilot the vessel. We actually see this at least once, in Empire Strikes Back, when R2 brings the X-Wing to Luke on Hoth (after Luke destroys the AT-AT).
As well R2 ostensibly offered to drive when they were leaving Hoth.
And there are several examples of R2 hopping in a Republic fighter and flying around in the Clone Wars series. Specifically in the episode "R2 Come Home" where he jumps in Mace Windu's fighter to get help.
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2 years ago ::
Jul 20, 2011 - 10:04AM
#8
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- Here be Dragons next 100 km
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While I have little issue with letting a droid pilot a starship I do run into two issues when it comes to the former "pilot" making attacks. The first, and probably bigger, issue is if the former pilot can fire pilot controlled weapons because he is no longer the actual pilot; I normally wouldn't say someone could act as gunner on a pilot controlled weapon when there is an actual pilot so trasfering the pilot role to a droid could/should also transfer weapon control. The second issue should actually be pretty clear, if you are not doing the piloting for a vehicle you do NOT get the +2 bonus that normally comes when making an attack as the pilot with a pilot controlled weapon.
That's pretty much covered by the rules on crew roles, isn't it? For anyone (even a droid) to pilot a vehicle, they must take over the Pilot role from the current pilot, and only the character who is currently acting as pilot can operate Pilot-operated weapon systems.
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2 years ago ::
Jul 20, 2011 - 2:09PM
#9
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Date Joined:
Jul 13, 2004
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The point about the pilot not being able of firing pilot-operated weapons if the droid takes control makes sense totally! Thanks for that!
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2 years ago ::
Jul 20, 2011 - 3:21PM
#10
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The point about the pilot not being able of firing pilot-operated weapons if the droid takes control makes sense totally! Thanks for that!
Which, in the case of many starfighters, means that if the "pilot" gives control over to the droid he is also giving up weapon control and thus couldn't make use of Double Attack anyway unless he happens to be shooting a personal weapon.
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