So a question that I'm sure comes up a lot is can a restraining bolt be applied to a droid that is resisting or you are currently in combat with?

The core book mentions that a restraining bolt requires a welder and a few seconds. It doesn't indicate what difficulty this task would be in the above situations.

Any suggestions or information?

I'd say it would be a Mechanics check, perhaps Average, and I'd add either a setback or two, perhaps even upgrade or increase the difficulty further if the droid was actively resisting or fighting you in combat.

In our game it was Average if it was an unresisting Droid, Upgraded by it's Agility or Brawn (whichever was higher) if resisting.

I'm going to assume that it takes at least as much effort as the application of a straightjacket (considerably more than simple binders or handcuffs). You will need to physically overpower the droid, and most likely will need to have one or more individuals holding it still while another applies the restraining bolt.

That's exactly how I would rule.

Regardless of difficulty, I would never allow a restraining bolt to be applied as, essentially, a "melee attack". It's a straightforward mechanical procedure; but it's still a mechanical procedure. It would be like, say, trying to put a pair of gloves on the hands of a moving opponent who's trying to avoid you - simple in theory but virtually impossible in practice.

But as HappyDaze said, I would probably allow an attempt at applying a restraining bolt if the target droid was restrained and held mostly still.

Agree highly with the last two posts. Kinda silly to think someone has a chance to run around in combat trying to quickly weld a device onto dissenting droids. To add my own comparison, try quickly putting a tie on a man who doesn't want to wear it. You would have to knock him out or hold him down first.

For game purposes, it would also be highly unfair and possibly unbalancing. Imagine a (limited) mind control device that could be slapped on a living target in the midst of combat.

well isn't there somewehere in the various books the jawa rifle that shoots a restraining bolt, like we see on R2 in episode IV?

I'd say that is the best way to put a restraining bolt on, accepting the penalites for shooting at something engaged in melee range. on the other hand it's late night here and i may have dreamed seeing that wepon statted.

Easier alternative: a ion gun shot then the restraining bolt application.

R2 was shot with an ion cannon and the bolt added later, as per your alternative suggestion.

I'd say hit them with ion, especially if they've upgraded from the original design, as it instantly knocks out the upgrade. Given that the knock out (for instance legs) makes it so that they instantly stop working for the scene, you may find a restraining bolt to be unnecessary entirely.

My PC droid has upgraded (cybernetics) on his legs, arms, and eyes. One hit with ion that surpasses his soak and he is basically a coma patient until the scene is over with. Dude is absolutely a combat powerhouse until the ion comes out.

Other then that, it would be a mechanics check, but not something that I would suggest allowing as an "attack" action, especially if the droid "actively resisting". You'd need some way to prevent its movement for the duration of the welding.

Except the ion cannon doesn't instantly knock you out, it does stun damage to droids only. If that stun is enough to exceed the droids threshold then I typically describe it as the bolt hitting and fully applying, otherwise it went in at an odd angle and while it certainly shocked their programming and slowed them down it didn't apply fully and shook out or something this not knocking them out.

As for applying one in combat it don't allow it unless they can completely disable a foe enough to deliver what would be the equivalent of an execution shot, doesn't make sense why a droid of would be insta gibbed any more than a person after all

He was referring to the specific rule on cybernetic enhancements. They get knocked out if you're hit with ion, and since he is pretty much entirely built out of enhancements, he'd basically down entirely when those go, unable to move his arms and legs or see.

Ah my mistake