Ok, I'm making a Droid Tech, but wanted to be completely clear on Speaks Binary.

If I have two ranks in Speaks Binary, at the start of my turn, I use a maneuver to Direct a B2 Battle Droid to attack a Clone Trooper. The B2 then attacks, gaining the +2Boost dice from my talent. But then since I only used a Maneuver to direct, I can still fire as well?

Or is it:

I use Maneuver to direct a droid to fire, then I use Action to shoot. Once the droid's turn comes around, it fires using the +2Boost dice.

Or am I completely wrong and Directing a droid takes up whatever action is being directed? For instance, I direct a droid to fire, and since its an Action I'm directing, it takes me an Action to do so.

I can't find the rules for Directing NPCs, or if they even have a specific ruleset.

Follow-up question: What's the difference between Speak Binary and Improved Speaks Binary?

When talents or abilities allow a character (or one being directed/assisted by them) to act out-of-turn, it makes this clear either by stating it is an out-of-turn incidental or that the action/maneuver is taken "immediately".

For example, Tactical Direction says: "May perform a maneuver to direct one allied minion group within Medium range; the group may perform an immediate free maneuver or add 1 boost to its next check."

I don't have the exact text of Speaks Binary to hand, but my recollection is that it doesn't specify this for that talent so the benefiting NPC waits until their next turn to use the additional boost - similar to boost being passed on by spending Advantages.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's like Kualan said, the text states that the character grants a Boost to any tasks he directs an NPC droid to perform. It isn't immediately performed out of turn.

Improved Speaks Binary states that when you direct an NPC droid to assist a check, the droid provides 1 Boost in addition to any other benefits he provides to the check. For example, an auto-pilot with 2 ranks of Piloting (Space) is directed to assist an unskilled character who has 3 Agility. The droid's assistance provides 2 ranks in the skill, but because of Improved Speaks Binary it also provides 1 Boost die making the pool YYGB. If the droid was providing unskilled assistance to a character with YYG, the pool would be YYGBB because the droid adds 1 Boost in addition to the Boost normally added from unskilled assistance.

Ok, cool, thanks guys.

So, have you found its easiest to have the GM control any droids the characters use? In my example, my character, the Tech, would have a separate initiative than the droid (who the GM ultimately controls). On the Tech's turn, I can spend a maneuver to direct the droid. Then its not until the droid's turn does it act upon my orders.

Generally I think that it's probably best for the GM to control any affiliated NPCs. The PCs can, of course, give orders to said NPCs, but I think that the GM should be in charge of the NPC.

On 9/25/2019 at 8:51 PM, Spice Junkee said:

So, have you found its easiest to have the GM control any droids the characters use? In my example, my character, the Tech, would have a separate initiative than the droid (who the GM ultimately controls). On the Tech's turn, I can spend a maneuver to direct the droid. Then its not until the droid's turn does it act upon my orders.

I run followers and companions quite a lot in the game, and find it generally has an adverse effect on Action Economy if all of them act separately.

I imagine this depends very much on how many players are at the table, and how happy your GM is to have things slow down, but for me I rule that the Player Controlling their minion uses their action to make the Minion take an action, or the Minion can assist the Player by upgrading a Skill Check once if they are trained in the task at hand, or a blue dice if they are not. Additionally I also give special minions etc Unique abilties and talents they can perform, in keeping with their role.

(Not an original joke by me but relevant).

There are 10 types of people in the 'verse. Those who speak Binary and those who don't.

I do: 0011010 1010001 010110 101010100011101 00100101!