Telemechanics and Robot and Power Armor Combat

[dragonfett]

Would it be reasonable to say that Telemechamics, if used on a suit of power armor or a robot vehicle, allowing access to RPA Combat: Basicb or upgrade that to Elite for that unit if the character already has Basic?

[ShadowLogan]

No. Telemechanics/TMO powers more or less provide the equivalent of Pilot Robots & Power Armor skill. You might then know how to use a system or move a limb (for ex), but you don't really know how to do it effectively (combat training) IMHO. A case might be made for RC:Basic since its emphasis is on piloting per the description, but not RC:elite.

[drewkitty ~..~]

Telemechanics/TMO powers more or less provide the equivalent of Pilot Robots & Power Armor skill.

2nd'ed

[eliakon]

No. Telemechanics/TMO powers more or less provide the equivalent of Pilot Robots & Power Armor skill. You might then know how to use a system or move a limb (for ex), but you don't really know how to do it effectively (combat training) IMHO. A case might be made for RC:Basic since its emphasis is on piloting per the description, but not RC:elite.

I would say...
Pilot Robot 80%
And grant the Basic combat since you know all the ins and outs of the robot and its weapons and such.

But I will agree that if you want Elite, you need to train for that. No amount of 'intuitive knowing how this machine operates" is going to make you a trained ace. You may know how the gun fires, but you don't know how to adjust for windage, or drop. You many know how the radar works, but you don't know how to account for echoes or spoofs. Or to borrow from Cars... you may know how the drive and steering works, but you don't know how to adjust for the difference between a dirt track and a paved one. That sort of thing is the realm of Elite.

[Blue_Lion]

Rue pg 183-The power itself says it provides-
I must stress that psycchic knows everything about the machine: the complete schematic diagram and operational knowledge are clearly seen in the mind's eye. The level of skill is equal to 80%.
and also says-
The Psychics skill knowledge is equal to 88% skill proficiency and applies to all aspect of its operation, repair, special codes programing, ect.

To me this means while it adds the understanding of how the controls work it does not add the muscle memory needed for combat skills like robot combat or WP. A (sadistic/mean) GM could even take it so far as saying knowing how the controls work is not the same as known how to pilot a vehicle(think the shadow run the difference between a knowledge skill/soft and a active skill/soft). IE I know how the control yoke and pedles affect a planes movment but I am not skilled in piloting a air plane. (This can be further highlighted by the fact a ground vehicle can be driven by some one with no skill in certain conditions, meaning they know how the controls work but not how to pilot.)

**So My ruling is no this power only grants scholastic knowledge it does not grant any combat training or bonuses. I would allow the use of the knowledge to pilot and repair the vehicle because that seams to be the spirt of the ability but- No muscle memory= no combat bonuses/or skills that grant such bonuses.**

[Swift-13]

I agree that telemechanics would allow movement and even basic combat, but nothing as skilled as even general Robot/PA combat training. Now, if you're interested in a psychic PA pilot, the Psi-Tech from Psyscape is a good way to go. Near constant Telemechanics and bonuses when linked to a vehicle!

[Prysus]

Greetings and Salutations. I'd allow Telemechanics to grant piloting at the 80% ability the power allows. I would not grant any type of combat bonuses.

1: Psi-Tech has an ability that grants bonuses due to a link (ability #4). "This union of man and machine provides the following bonuses beyond the usual robot or vehicle piloting skills the character may have." There's a bonus to piloting checks, but there's also combat bonuses included. These bonuses are "in addition" to the piloting skills (Robot and Power Armor Combat: Basic and/or Elite are Piloting Skills). Furthermore, the Psi-Tech has open availability of Piloting skills, and there's no mention of them automatically getting Basic and/or Elite combat training for free (neither in their special abilities nor in their skills).

2: (Opinion) Simply understanding something well shouldn't grant combat bonuses. Let's look at this a different way. "I know my body. I can move it around like it's a natural part of me! This means I should get Hand to Hand: Basic automatically. Maybe even Expert or Martial Arts!" Uh ... no, no it doesn't. Simply understanding how something works shouldn't mean you suddenly know how to throw a punch better or aim down a barrel of a gun accurately without any training. I feel the same applies to Telemechanics. Even if you can make the machine one with you (as if an extension of your body), that doesn't mean you suddenly learn to fight better just because. So while you could use all the combat systems without penalty, you don't get bonuses either.

Anyways, those are my thoughts on the matter. Farewell and safe journeys for now.

[eliakon]

For what its worth Rifts Japan page 132 has that the link from a head jack provides a set of bonuses.
This might be worth looking into as Telemechanics provides some similar data...

[Blue_Lion]

For what its worth Rifts Japan page 132 has that the link from a head jack provides a set of bonuses.
This might be worth looking into as Telemechanics provides some similar data...

It might be similar data but as I understand it the link can send information two ways I do not think the same is true of Tellemechanics. So while some similarity might exist the function is different. Like how a pistol a laser cannon on robot use similar method to damage but the use is totally different.

Do to it being something different I would say it is as relevant to bonuses from Tellemechanics as the TW ability to make machines controlled by the mind listed in the official hacking material. In other words it is not truly relevant as any bonuses are unrelated.

[Swift-13]

Actually, now that I recall, in the Mechanoids Sourcebook, Hagan has a special helmet that boosts his Telemechanics when he's in his power armor or robot vehicle. While that is a special case, I'm sure a similar version could be ported over for other characters. Up to the GM, of course!

[Tiree]

The bonuses are pretty big. They aren't RUE standard, so they may be altered if that ever happened. But I did notice this:

The helmet also links him directly to Archie, enabling the two to psionically communicate within a 500 mile radius (800 km).

How much of these bonuses are due to Archie himself? Having a super computer anticipate actions, reactions could help quite a bit.

[Colonel_Tetsuya]

The bonuses are pretty big. They aren't RUE standard, so they may be altered if that ever happened. But I did notice this:

The helmet also links him directly to Archie, enabling the two to psionically communicate within a 500 mile radius (800 km).

How much of these bonuses are due to Archie himself? Having a super computer anticipate actions, reactions could help quite a bit.

As this is listed as an additional feature, id say zero effect.