Forums of the Megaverse®

for games that have the optic systems skill do you have to have this skill and roll it successfully to do the following:
use a laser sight on a ranged weapon
use the optic systems in a robot or power armor
use hand held multi-optic devises similar to binoculars

drakinn wrote:for games that have the optic systems skill do you have to have this skill and roll it successfully to do the following:
use a laser sight on a ranged weapon
use the optic systems in a robot or power armor
use hand held multi-optic devises similar to binoculars

technically?
Yes to all.
I tend to let the laser sight thing slide... (only need to sight the thing once every so often)
the others?
For the R/PA it would depend on the optics being used.
Same for the binocs.

I'd have to say no to the idea of having to compulsory use the optics system skill to use what would be considered standard optical enhancements (Thermal imaging, Passive Night Vision, Infrared, etc). Most of these systems are built to be user friendly and come configured to function in a certain way. The Optics system skill allows a person to utilize the systems in more creative ways and possibly reconfigure them to help in unique situations. Likewise, the skill also allows characters to make use of less common optics such as multi-band optics or similar scientific or investigative systems.

In the alternative, Optics systems can be used as a less broad version of the Sensory Equipment skill that only applies to reading and utilizing complex hand held and vehicle based optic systems. However, it's probably better to just take the Sensory Equipment skill over the optic systems skill since it covers reading and using basic optics systems as a default, along with using radar, sonar, and other useful gadgets.

Colt47 wrote:I'd have to say no to the idea of having to compulsory use the optics system skill to use what would be considered standard optical enhancements (Thermal imaging, Passive Night Vision, Infrared, etc). Most of these systems are built to be user friendly and come configured to function in a certain way. The Optics system skill allows a person to utilize the systems in more creative ways and possibly reconfigure them to help in unique situations. Likewise, the skill also allows characters to make use of less common optics such as multi-band optics or similar scientific or investigative systems.

In the alternative, Optics systems can be used as a less broad version of the Sensory Equipment skill that only applies to reading and utilizing complex hand held and vehicle based optic systems. However, it's probably better to just take the Sensory Equipment skill over the optic systems skill since it covers reading and using basic optics systems as a default, along with using radar, sonar, and other useful gadgets.

which is why I said it all depends on the optics being used.
By the RAW the roll would need to be made only when special circumstances apply.

Damian Magecraft wrote:

Colt47 wrote:I'd have to say no to the idea of having to compulsory use the optics system skill to use what would be considered standard optical enhancements (Thermal imaging, Passive Night Vision, Infrared, etc). Most of these systems are built to be user friendly and come configured to function in a certain way. The Optics system skill allows a person to utilize the systems in more creative ways and possibly reconfigure them to help in unique situations. Likewise, the skill also allows characters to make use of less common optics such as multi-band optics or similar scientific or investigative systems.

In the alternative, Optics systems can be used as a less broad version of the Sensory Equipment skill that only applies to reading and utilizing complex hand held and vehicle based optic systems. However, it's probably better to just take the Sensory Equipment skill over the optic systems skill since it covers reading and using basic optics systems as a default, along with using radar, sonar, and other useful gadgets.

which is why I said it all depends on the optics being used.
By the RAW the roll would need to be made only when special circumstances apply.

Ah, I missed that part.

But the skill specifically says "expert training in the use of... laser targeting, thermal imagers, passive light intensifiers, infrared, ultraviolet systems..." Having been in the military and trained in the use of the above equipment I would have to say that is isn't idiot proof. I guess I am saying that the skill is needed to be able to use them but may not need to be rolled for every use.

drakinn wrote:But the skill specifically says "expert training in the use of... laser targeting, thermal imagers, passive light intensifiers, infrared, ultraviolet systems..." Having been in the military and trained in the use of the above equipment I would have to say that is isn't idiot proof. I guess I am saying that the skill is needed to be able to use them but may not need to be rolled for every use.

exactly

This is what I wrote in the duplicate thread over in the Rifts Forum (btw, please do not make duplicate threads in multiple forums. I'm not a forum moderator, but that is definitely not a good way of doing things):

The sensory equipment skill includes the use of all basic optics systems as well as radar, sonar, and other items. I've always played under the impression that most soldiers are given rudimentary training in how to use certain kinds of optics and therefore wouldn't all need the optics system or sensory equipment skill. Otherwise, there suddenly is a lot of equipment running around in the CS arsenal that would require troops with a very specialized or extremely broad skill.

drakinn wrote:for games that have the optic systems skill do you have to have this skill and roll it successfully to do the following:
use a laser sight on a ranged weapon
use the optic systems in a robot or power armor
use hand held multi-optic devises similar to binoculars

Only if the task is difficult.