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Originally Posted by DAT
I was thinking I messed this up, just not sure how.
So I should have: 425% x 3 = 12.75 = 13 points?
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No, it should be: Ally (Microbot Swarm; built on 50%, Frequency of Appearance Constantly X4; Minion, Ally has Slave Mentality, +0%; Special Abilities, +50%; Sympathy, -25%) [15]. Note that the multiplier for frequency of appearance is applied to the base cost first, and only then do you apply any modifiers. So, you get a base cost of 12 (3 X 4 for Constantly), and then add the net +25% enhancement that all works out to, for a final cost of 15 (my own math was off before when I said 14, sorry about that).
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Originally Posted by DAT
Yes, the player state in his concept that he drew his technomancer powers through his link with the swarm, so that is how I tried to model it for him.
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Hmm. Is that a matter of all their hacking and stuff has to go through the swarm first? Or does the swarm give them their powers, but they can still communicate directly with computer systems?
If it's the first, you could give them some variant of the Telecommunication advantage, with a -80% limitation, "Only to communicate with microbot swarm", and then give the swarm the full-blown Telecommunication (Radio) advantage. Which version of the Telecommunication advantage you give the character depends on whether you see the connection to the swarm being a basically-supernatural one, that can't be easily blocked or intercepted (in which case, use Telesend), or if it's just really limited, specialized radio, subject to jamming, interception, and so on (in which case it should be Radio).
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Originally Posted by DAT
Yes, I have the Cybernetic limitations added to if for -50%. I had considered the Granted by familiar and or Gadget limitations too.
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Could you clarify which Cybernetic limitations you're referring to? I'm not familiar offhand with any that would add up to -50%. In any case, based on how you've described the relationship to the microbot swarm, I would
definitely add the Granted by Familiar limitation to most of the character's powers - it's almost a textbook example of what that limitation is for.
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Originally Posted by DAT
Any alternative advice for building a Technomancer with a microbot swarm symbiont/familiar?
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Well, here's another idea:
Abilities
Natural Radio: Telecommunication (Radio; Burst, X10, +30%; Reduced Range, 1/20, -40%; Secure, +20%; Video, +40%) [15].
Complex Forms: Modular Abilities (Computer Brain; Accessibility, Only to load programs written yourself, -20%; Trait Limited: Only to add programs) [5 points + 2 points for every level of program above +1, to a maximum of +4]
On-The-Fly Coding: Quick Gadgeteer (Accessiblity, Only to create programs, -70%).
Notes: The Reduced Range, 1/20 limitation on Radio is my own invention, but it follows the progression of the other levels, and I think it's reasonable.
The "Complex Forms" ability assumes that a program is best described as a single-skill Talent (2 points/level), providing its bonus to the specific task the program is designed for.
On top of these abilities, you could then add the microbot swarm Ally, as outlined above. If the character is wedded to their abilities being granted by their connection with the swarm, I'd add the Granted By Familiar, -40% limitation to all the above abilities. If you want to preserve the whole thing about only being able to connect to computers via the swarm, then put the -80% limitation for only being able to communicate with one person on the "Natural Radio" ability, above, and give the full Natural Radio ability to the swarm. I'd add an enhancement to the swarm's version of the ability, "Rebroadcaster", allowing it to act that way, taking signals from some other source and immediately sending them out again, rather than having to accept the signals, then switch "modes" to Send and transmit them out again. I'd price that at +20%.