Latest revision as of 21:35, 29 July 2008

Sunday Driving for 4th Edition

Sequence of Events
1. Determine range and speed.
2. Position Test
3. Initiative
4. Driver Manoeuvres/Passenger Actions
5. End of turn

Starting Range and Speed

Before the beginning of the vehicle combat the GM should determine the range between the vehicles (most combats would start at a Medium range). He should also determine the starting speed (which is of course 0 for stationary vehicles and usually half the speed value for moving vehicles).

Position Test 

The pilot makes a vehicle test (Reaction + Pilot +/- Handling) +1 bonus dice for each full 25 speed (calculated from the previous turn).  See the table below for other modifiers to vehicle tests.

Condition Modifier
Pilot Wounded Injury Modifier
Vehicle Damaged Damage Modifier
Poor Visibility Visibility Modifier
Open Terrain 0
Light Terrain -1
Restricted Terrain -2
Tight Terrain -3
Augmented Reality +1
AR while remote 0
Virtual Reality +2
VR while remote +2
Vehicle Control Rig +2

The pilot who achieved the highest number of successes may change the range between the two vechiles by one category per success. 

 
For every success the vehicles speed for the next turn’s position test is set as the number of success multiplied by acceleration.

If the vehicle is driving at slow (walking) speeds the first acceleration value is used and the modifier due to terrain is reduced by one.
Vehicles driving a fast (running) speeds use the second acceleration rating. The maximum value this may reach is the vehicles speed.

Eclipses pimped out ride is chasing down a Yakuza filled sedan with her mark in the boot!  The Yakuza sedan starts at a speed of 55 and Eclipses pimped out ride at 100 and at Medium range.

The Yukuza sedan has an acceleration of 15/30, a max speed of 110 and no handling modifier.  The Yakuza driver makes a vehicle test (Reaction [3] + Pilot [3] + Hanling [0] + Speed [2]) and achieves 2 successes.  The Yakuza sedan is moving at running speed and so moves at a speed of acceleration [30] x successes [2] = 60 m per combat turn next turn (+1 speed bonus next turn).

Eclipses pimped out ride has an acceleration of 30/60, a max speed of 200 and +3 Handling.  She makes a vehicle test (Reaction [5] + Pilot [5] + Handling [3] + Speed [4]) and gets three successes.  She is s moving at running speed and so moves at a speed of acceleration [60] x successes [3] = 180 m per combat turn next turn (+6 speed bonus next turn).  As she achieved 1 success more than the goons she chooses to close the distance between the vehicles by one range categories from medium to short. 

Pilot Manoeuvres

Every turn a pilot can make one pilot manoeuvre even if they have multiple actions. If the pilot fails a manoeuver test or doesn’t make a manoeuvre the next turn the vehicle becomes unstable (all tests at -2). If the pilot fails to make a test in the next turn the vehicle crashes.

Pilot

This is just simple plain driving and doesn't require a test.  This action is also required to regain control of an unstable vehicle which does require a Vehicle test (1).

Evade

The pilot uses evasivie actions to make it harder to be targeted.  When evading the pilot may defend against attacks with Reaction + Pilot instead of only reaction.  Evade may be used at any time as an interupt action, the pilot then loses their next action.

Overtake/Block (Close Range Only)

To overtake a hostile vehicle the pilot makes a vehicle test. The defender may choose to block this. In the case the test becomes an opposed test. To draw up side by side the attacker needs 2 successes. To completely pass the opponents vehicle the attacker needs 4 successes. If the attacker fails to get completely past in the first overtake action, he may try again next action adding his previous next successes to the test.

Cut Off (Close Range Only)

The pilot attempts to make another vehicle stop or crash. The pilots make an opposed vehicle test. If the attacking pilot is successful the defending vehicle must make a crash test. If the defenders crash test is successful they must either stop or ram the attacking vehicle. If thecut off test fails the attacker’s vehicle is considered to have a speed of 0 for the next turns position test.

Manoeuvre

The pilot attempts to use driving skill and terrain to out manoeuvre the opponent. The pilot makes a vehicle test. For each success the pilot gains +1 dice to the next position test.

Ram/Sideswipe

If a driver wants to ram something (or someone) with the vehicle, treat it as a melee attack. The driver rolls Reaction + Vehicle skill +/– Handling to attack. The target rolls Reaction + Dodge if a pedestrian, or Reaction + Vehicle skill +/– Handling if driving another vehicle. If the driver gets more hits, he hits the target. Make the damage resistance test as normal.

The base Damage Value of the attack is determined by the ramming vehicle’s Body and speed, as noted on the Ramming Damage Table. The ramming vehicle must resist only half that amount (round down). Characters resist ramming damage with half their Impact armour (round up). If the ram succeeds, each driver must make an additional Vehicle Test to avoid crashing. The threshold for the ramming driver is 2; the threshold for the rammed driver is 3.

Sideswipe and nudge rams can be used when both vehicles are at close range. The attacking vehicle takes Body/4 DV and the defender Body/2 DV. Dodge tests to avoid nudges and sideswipes are at -2 due to the close proximity. On a glitch result both vehicles become locked together. Either driver can make a pilot (2) test to break free. While locked together all manoeuvres are at -4 dice pool.

Position

The pilot attempts to manoeuvre the vehicle in such a way as to align the vehicles weapons systems or give the vehicles passengers a better angle for ranged attacks. The pilot makes a vehicle test. Each success gives one weapon system on the attacking vehicle OR the passengers of the vehicle (not both) +1 dice for the next attack to a maximum of half the pilot’s vehicle skill.

Dogfight

The art of dog fighting is to manoeuvre your vehicle directly behind the opponents hence restricting the opponent’s weapons fire. Make an opposed vehicle test with the following modifiers. If successful the attacker has a superior position and receives +2 dice pool to position tests and attack tests until the defender breaks away. The defender also can’t use any ranged weapons that are not rear facing. To break away a defender must make an opposed vehicle test and win.

Dogfight Modifier
Close Range +1
Short Range 0
Medium Range -1
Long Range -2
Superior position (i.e. won last dog fight) +2
VTOL +1
Air vs Ground +1

Controlled Stop/Handbrake turn

This manoeuvre involves going from full speed to stopping at a precise position (and even changing direction). Make a vehicle test with a threshold of the terrain based on the area the pilot wants to stop in (Open 0, Light 1, Restricted 2, Tight 3) – note for this test the pilot doesn’t receiver negative nice pool modifiers as well! If the pilot also wants to stop the vehicle so it is facing the opposite direction then apply a -2 dice pool modifier.

Chicken

The ultimate in nerves! Two vehicles which are heading towards each other can play chicken. Both vehicle drivers must elect to play (otherwise this is a standard ram). Each pilot rolls a vehicle test but also adds their willpower. Who ever loses the test “blinks” first and their vehicle goes out of control. Next turn they must make a crash test unless they spend an entire action controlling the vehicle. For the next turn their speed is considered to be 0. If the opposed test is a tie then neither pilot “blinks” and they suffer a head on crash.

Shove (Close range)

The attaching vehicle attempts to push a vehicle in the direction it wishes e.g. onto rail road tracks or off a cliff. If the defender is moving the attacker must have succeeded in a ram test in the previous action. The pilots make an opposed Vehicle Body + Pilot +/- Handling test. If the attacker is successful the defender is push 1 meter for each net success. If the defender is successful they escape the situation and the attacker will need to make another ram test.

Escape (Long Range Only)

The pilot must win an opposed vehicle test on three consecutive turns after which the vehcile has escaped the pursuit. 

Non-Pilot Actions

The following actions are not pilot actions so don't count towards controlling the vehicle

Character Action

Any normal character action e.g. cast a spell, use a skill.

Fire a personal weapon

To fire a personal weapon in a standard vehicle the attacker can either put just his arm out of the vehicle (-4 modifier to hit -6 modifier to be hit) or lean out of the vehicle (-2 modifier to hit, -4 modifier to be hit).  If the vehicle has gun ports the attacker suffers no penalties, and has the full protection of the vehicles armour.

Use an onboard weapon system

Firing a onboard weapon system e.g. a turret mounted HMG

Change mode

Change from manual to AR or to VR.  Initiative bonuses do not count until next turn.