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Old 09-18-2013, 01:20 PM   #1
ADAXL
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Default [Ultra Tech] Micrwave Disruptors and EMP Grenades

I am preparing a TL9 campaign with plenty of combat robots, which brings up the question of how Microwave Disruptors (p. UT121) and EMP Grenades (p. UT157) work. Both weapons are available at TL9, and therefore relevant.

Now, the rules for Microwave Disruptors say they are contact agents that ignore DR unless the target is Sealed. The rules of contact agent (p. B111) say that the attack must touch bare skin or porous clothing to have any effect at all. DR always stops it. This would mean that a robot with the Sealed Advantage and any DR at all will be totally immune to a Microwave Disruptor attack. This is important because most military robots will be Sealed and armored. The Microwave Disruptors will only be good against badly protected civilian robots (and perhaps a damaged combat robot that no longer counts as Sealed). They are good for stealing robot maids and knocking out the neighbors obnoxious robopooch, but not for much else.

The next anti-Robot weapon, the EMP grenade, is even more confusing. It requires a HT-8 (2) resistance roll to avoid the effect. How does the Sealed Advantage work here? How does DR work?
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Old 09-18-2013, 02:00 PM   #2
vicky_molokh
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Default Re: [Ultra Tech] Micrwave Disruptors and EMP Grenades

Quote:
Originally Posted by ADAXL View Post
I am preparing a TL9 campaign with plenty of combat robots, which brings up the question of how Microwave Disruptors (p. UT121) and EMP Grenades (p. UT157) work. Both weapons are available at TL9, and therefore relevant.

Now, the rules for Microwave Disruptors say they are contact agents that ignore DR unless the target is Sealed. The rules of contact agent (p. B111) say that the attack must touch bare skin or porous clothing to have any effect at all. DR always stops it. This would mean that a robot with the Sealed Advantage and any DR at all will be totally immune to a Microwave Disruptor attack. This is important because most military robots will be Sealed and armored. The Microwave Disruptors will only be good against badly protected civilian robots (and perhaps a damaged combat robot that no longer counts as Sealed). They are good for stealing robot maids and knocking out the neighbors obnoxious robopooch, but not for much else.
An important consideration is that radar and radio are potentially vulnerable even if the rest of the bot is Sealed.

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Originally Posted by ADAXL View Post
The next anti-Robot weapon, the EMP grenade, is even more confusing. It requires a HT-8 (2) resistance roll to avoid the effect. How does the Sealed Advantage work here? How does DR work?
DR protects at half value - that's what the (2) is about. Also, in case of an Internal Explosion, DR has no effect. So you really want EMP minimissiles fused to blow up after penetration, if they can penetrate the DR at all.
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Old 09-18-2013, 06:58 PM   #3
Fred Brackin
 
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Default Re: [Ultra Tech] Micrwave Disruptors and EMP Grenades

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Originally Posted by ADAXL View Post
The next anti-Robot weapon, the EMP grenade, is even more confusing. It requires a HT-8 (2) resistance roll to avoid the effect. How does the Sealed Advantage work here? How does DR work?
Cut the DR in half and apply that number as a modifier to the HT roll v. the Affliction.

For example, a bot with DR28 rolls v. HT +6 when in range of an EMP grenade.

So EMP isn't much relevant v. military robots either.

Off-hand I don't think Sealed matters v. afflictions.
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