I mean... Obviously the ability gets it's name from the movie... But it seems a bit potent to use on opponents.

I'd say "Yes, but..."

As for its use on opponents, the talent specifically states it may be used once per session, so that's just one droid.

It's not like an adversary droid is going to let someone walk up and pop open an access to panel in order to fiddle with its inner bits. Nor is an adversary droid going to let itself go to pot- it'll perform routine maintenance, just like PC droids would. I'd rule that the difficulty dice (PPP) be upgraded to challenge dice if the droid possessed the Adversary talent, and otherwise treat its use like a combat action. I'd rule likewise if someone wanted to use Bad Motivator to disable a bionic implant.

I see this being more useful for disabling powered barriers, life support systems, gravity plating.

If the droid was a Minion, certainly. If it was a Rival, maybe. And if it was a Nemesis, absolutely not. The Adversary talent would come into play, as Brother Orpheo said, and probably some setback dice as well. On a Rival or Nemesis droid I'd rule that the player would have to target one specific item or part of the droid, like sensors, locomotion, etc. rather than shut down the droid completely.

So perhaps I should only let the players disable bits... Like the rocket launcher on a Dark Trooper. That is closer to a 'device' as described. If the players want to go for a target, I could allow them a critical... ?

It's a cool ability... They just have to see it for it to happen.

The talent lists the caveat subject to GM approval, which means to me the devs wanted each GM to decide how good it's going to be at their own table.

As Krieger said, I let it take out a minion easy, probably royally screw up a Rival, and take out a weapon system or maybe do a critical to a Nemesis.

It's a powerful once-per-session signature ability, so it should have some kick to it.

Think of ot this way: if you have an enemy with Bad Motivator, what would you let it do to a Player? Either a droid PC or player controlled droid.

The way i see it, if the player (or nemesis) is a droid, they aren't property or gear, if it is something that an enemy or player owns it is viable to be affected.

Going after gear has a much more pre-determined outcome.

If you go with 'crit' thinking, then Minions blow up on sight, maybe give the player +40 crit versus a Rival, and +0 versus a Nemesis.

Some enterprising player is bound to ask if that works with Lethal Blows.... (I'd say yes....)

Seems reasonable to me to upgrade the difficulty of the check for the ranks in target droids Discipline/Computers/Mechanics. Probably add Setback for a Rival equal to their raw Willpower/Intellect depending on the situation.

I see the "average" check to disable a Rival level droid and remove them from combat as RPPBB to be fair for essentially a OHKOing while the droid remains intact for salvage later.

Pg 132. Subject to gm approval.

If its a quick shootout with some b-1 the players are expected to defeat anyway that's one thing.

If its a boss fight against the big nasty assassin droid that's the last thing keeping the players from rescuing the princess its ok to tell the player he can't auto win the encounter on turn 1.

Bad Motivator is probably the Talent that most needs to be FAQd for what is and is not kosher use and the applicable scope as intended.