Shadowrun Pub
Shadowrun RPG => SR3 (Shadowrun 3rd Edition) General Discussion => Topic started by: kv on May 20, 2006, 12:19:47 PM
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Hey everyone.
As I already mentioned in the Magic thread, I'm teaching a group of new players Shadowrun, and they've been asking me a lot of questions that I hadn't thought of or didn't remember the rules for, so I buckled down and dove into the rulebook, and I'm making pretty good headway re-learning the rules and answering thier questions.
I have two players in that group playing mages, so I had to address thier questions first (and thier questions have given me some pretty good insights into magic that have helped me make a fun character, as well as some ideas of what to throw at my runners in the future.)
But now I have another player who wants to play a decker. I already know some about decking... but I'll admit, I don't really know much about the world of the deckers total. So this thread is for questions that I come up with while reading the rules, and hopefully y'all can answer my questions.
-kv
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Right.
My book's still out there though, so I'll stick to stuff from Matrix for now.
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No worries. I'm just reading the SR3, so any clarifications from Matrix would be a big help!
-kv
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Matrix rules are pretty simple, compared to first edition (aka Matrix 1.0)
Keep in mind, everything is abstract.
Never forget: ACIFS (Access, Control, Index, Files, Slave)
It's always Computer + Hacking Pool (Subsystem - Utility) opposed by Host Rating (Detection Factor)
Even if the intruding icon's action succeeds the systems successes are STILL added to the Security Tally. Notably,
Detection Factor is (Masking + Sleaze) / 2
Whenever a host icon is crashed, the security tally increases by that program's rating unless the "death cry" is suppressed with 1 Detection Factor or 1 Hacking Pool (<- this is an optional rule from Matrix)
The best way to look at it is that the System is another decker with a computer skill equal to the system rating and the IC are programs that get loaded into memory to attack the intruding icon. So that Blaster IC isn't attacking the player; the Host is using the Blaster like a weapon to attack the intruder.
To simplify casual Matrix interactions, the decker is considered to get a number of actions equal to the number of matrix initiative dice - 1 + matrix reaction / 10. Therefore, if you had 4d6 + 11, you'd get 4 actions in one turn (3 seconds) That's pretty fast.
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You will want to maximize detection factor as hard as possibly, since each success the host scores against you counts for 2 purposes (as mentioned). They subtract from your own successes, and add directly to your security tally, which determines when more ICE will be send out to get you.
For this reason, I recommend that you seriously consider using the optional rules Retread mentions from Matrix, about suppressing ICE using hacking pool dice. I also strongly recommend suppressing each and every piece of ICE you 'kill', since the deathcry is usually enough to summon atleast one, occasionally more pieces of extra ICE to defeat you.
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Another optional rule allows you to increase your Detection factor on the fly by allocating hacking pool on a 2 for 1 basis. 2 hacking pool dice gives +1 detection factor up to a limit of +3 or 6 hacking pool dice. These dice are unavailable until the next Combat Turn when the hacking pool refreshes.
The other option is to buy a utility with the Stealth and Sneak options: One is for attack utilities and one for operational utilities.
These special options increase the size and subsequently cost of those programs.
The Stealth option for attack utilities will muffle the "death cry" of IC by a number of rating points equal to the Stealth rating. It's easier to explain by example: I buy an attack utility called Sniper Rifle, sniper rifle is an Attack S 6 program with rating 4 stealth on it. It's size is effectively 10x10x4 = 400 (I believe that's the attack multiplier) because it's design rating is 10 (6 + 1 for each additional stealth rating) When I use Sniper Rifle, which consequently, looks like a suppressed sniper rifle, it will crash a system icon and muffle 4 points of rating that would normally be added to the security tally. So if I crash that annoying Probe 6 IC that keeps generating more security tally it would added 2 to the security tally if I didn't supress it after crashing it with Sniper Rifle.
The Sneak option for operational utilities increases the effective detection factor of your icon when using that utility in a System test. It's design rating modifier is +2, so a rating 4 util with Sneak 1 would have a design rating equal to 6, sneak 2 is 8 and so on.
Pertinent to character creation
A decker character should allocate some knowledge skills to a set of skills called "System Familiarity" skills. These skills give the character an edge in certain systems in the form of additional hacking pool dice. There are a variety of system familiarity skills that cover different kinds of systems and hosts. For example: Banking, Satellite, Online Game, RTGs, LTGs, Accounting, Chokepoint, etc. Specializations of these skills are specific systems, like, Air Traffic Control (Los Angeles International)
To use System Familiarity, the first time the decker logs onto the the system the GM rolls their system familiarity against the host's/grids security rating. For every success the decker gets 1 additional hacking pool die. These skills give decker's much more differentiation than your standard lot, allowing two deckers in one group, one who specializes in intense combat inside Chokepoints, Killing Jars, and other highly secure systems and another who specializes in snooping for files, defeating encryption and manipulating data.
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If you plan to write your own programs, you will also want certain knowledge skills (like operational unitilities or white ICE to write up a prgramming plan before starting.
If you plan to buy all of your proggies you can forget about these, but you might well want o bring the brig cred stick.
In general, where magicians can spend any and al karma points they can find, deckers can fairly easily spend huge amounts of nuyen on upgrades for their decks (funny, where have they found inspiration for this do you think?).
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Well, the White IC knowledge skill would only really be useful if you were into designing software for Hosts, perhaps it might be useful if you wanted to make a form of White IC that would appear to do it's job but fail at the appropriate time, etc. You'd have to get super-user access to do that, though.
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ah but wouldnt white ic knowladge give you a clue as to how to construct grey and black ic
And how they operate
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From a rules techinacal point of view, no, not really. Sorry.
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By all respects, grey IC generally resemble attack programs while Black IC are more like Blackhammer programs.
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just a random thought was just thinking if you knew how one was constructed you might be able to extrapulate
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Well, yes, and I can see your point, but again, the rules say no.
If you want an in-game (suggested) argument, think about how each kind of ICE works.
White ICE generally targets your icon. Your connection or software if you will.
Grey ICE generally targets your deck. The hardware of it.
Black ICE generally targets You. The Decker.
See the differance?
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yep i do
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Okay... whoa... this thread got all sorts of hijacked. ;D
Itsa' cool, though. Everyone can ask questions!
I was wondering- when it says in SR3 that non-lethal Black IC does 'mental' damage, they mean stun damage, right? But it's resisted with willpower?
-kv
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Non-lehal damage in this case means STUN, yes.
As for resisting it with Willpower, it is explicitly stated on p. 230 (SR3) that they indeed do.
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So... utilities lower the target number of the system test by the rating of the utility, and then the decker's computer skill (or decker specalization) is rolled to figure out any successes?
-kv
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Yes, plus any hacking pool allocated as such. Don't forget modifiers like damage too. This applies to OPERATIONS. That means stuff like "Download File" "Locate IC" et al.
Attacking is different, and the target number to "hit" is based on the legitimacy of the icon within the system relative to the Security Code of the host.
Code Illegitimate Legitimate
Blue 5 2
Green 4 3
Orange 3 4
Red 2 5
That means that an unauthorized icon will be harder to hit in a blue system while an authorized one will be easier to hit.
There are also maneuvers you can do in Cybercombat, these are Opposed tests with the maneuvering icon's Evasion vs. the maneuvered-upon's Sensor rating. If either are IC, the number used is the Security Rating. The target number for the maneuvering icon is reduced by the rating of it's Cloak utility, if active. The opposite's target number is reduced by the rating of it's active Lock-On utility.
The different maneuvers are listed on pg. 224-225 of SR3.
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So the target number to hit a legitimate icon (such as a program) on a green system is 2? And the target for an icon to attack the intruding decker is 5?
-kv
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Kid_Vid, if you want to have some real fun with Black IC, give your team a dose of the psychotropic black IC like Judas IC. I may have the name wrong, but the effect is that it programs the decker to leave clues as to his whereabouts. So your decker might get past the IC and get to the paydata, but he is tipping off the corporation the entire time and not even knowing that he is doing it. And, you can substitue certain mental and computer flaws for IC damage as well. Amnesia is a good one. So is Jack Itch.
Gabriel
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Woops!
I got that table wrong:
Security Code To Hit Intruder To Hit Legit
Blue 6 3
Green 5 4
Orange 4 5
Red 3 6
So, to hit a legitimate icon in a blue system is easier because the system is easier to manipulate while an intruder is harder to hit because the system isn't designed for security but ease of use. Red systems are more secure and so are harder to damage and are geared towards high security. The blue and green system has lower processing power while the orange and red are high strength processors with cycles to spare detecting intruders and protecting it's own algorithms and such.
This table is listed on pg 224 of SR3.
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So... the target for IC to hit a decker would be 6? What's the decjker's target number to hit the IC? 3? The system rating?
-kv
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So... the target for IC to hit a decker would be 6? What's the decjker's target number to hit the IC? 3? The system rating?
On a Blue system: The decker would have a T# of 3 to hit the ICE, while the ICE would have a T# 6 to hit the decker (or the system would have a T# 6 to hit the decker with the ICE, depending on point of view).
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So, where does the system rating come into play? Is that how many dice the system has for it's tests?
If so, what are examples, if not, why not? What numbers of dice are used instead?
-kv
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Okay, Danger_MOOSE the n00b decker is hacking into the public library host on 44th and Wiltshire. MOOSE gets access immediately, since it's a public node. He then wishes to see what kind of system it's running. So, I uses an Analyze Host operation. MOOSE rolls his Computer of 3 + 3 hacking pool against the host's Control Rating (which MOOSE's player does not know yet) minus his Analyze utility's rating of 3. He rolls 3 net successes so MOOSE's checks the security (BLUE 3) and two subsystems, Control (8) and Files (10). In reality the ACIFS of the host is (9/8/8/10/9) The host scored one success in the last test, so MOOSE's security tally is 1 (he does not know this, only the GM does. He can perform an Analyze Security operation if he wishes to know)
MOOSE wants to prove he's something so he decides to vandalize the online card catalog. He automatically finds the catalog because access is allowed to his anonymous account. He finds that the catalog has already been vandalized so he decides to change it himself. He performs a Vandalize Icon operation using his rating 5 redecorate utility. He rolls 3 computer + 3 hacking pool against a target number of 3 (8 Control - 5 redecorate utility) getting 4 successes the host rolls 3 dice against a target number of 4 ( [MOOSE's masking 4 + rating 4 Sleaze] /2) and gets 1 success. MOOSE gets 3 net successes so he can change three details of the icon. He decides to make it so all the cards in the virtual card catalog have a watermarked moose with the words DANGER beneath them.
Unknown to MOOSE (he failed his free Sensors test when logging on) another decker lies in wait. A matrix gang punk icon named Sloppy-Joseph ghosts up behind MOOSE and hits him with his Attack utility, a dirty sock swarming with flies. Sloppy rolls his computer 4 + 4 hacking pool against a target number of 3. 1,3,2,5,11,3,4. That's 6 successes, which stages his Light damage attack utility up by 3 levels to Deadly. MOOSE rolls his deck's Bod attribute (4) against a target number of 3 (Sloppy-Joseph's attack utility rating) minus his Armor utility rating. Since MOOSE has no armor utility active, he must roll against 3 because MOOSE logged in as a legitimate icon (big mistake, chummer). He rolls: 3, 2, 1, 10. His icon gets nearly smothered by the stinky sock. The simsense stench is nearly overwhelming. MOOSE must roll a Willpower test against a target number of five (his icon took serious damage) He passes the test and takes no overload damage. Now initiative is rolled and combat begins.
Had MOOSE had a better Sensor rating, he might have noticed the other decker in the first place. Even then, he should have attempted a Locate Decker before going straight to the target. Additionally, he never allocated any Hacking pool to detection factor, most likely because he was using it to make up for his lack of Computer skill. If his detection factor had been higher, the other decker may have never noticed him until the Vandalize Icon operation had finished and even then, he would have had to perform a locate Decker operation. MOOSE lost that cybercombat, but he got lucky, the other decker could have seeded that system with worms or used a BlackHammer utility and outright killed Danger_MOOSE.
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OKay, how does overload damage work?
(oh, and I am sooooOOOOooo stealing the name Danger_Moose as an NPC)
-kv
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Okay, and how does programming work? (programming skill... is a specilization of the Computer skill, right?)
How does it work though? Can you upgrade a program (from a rating 5 program to 6, for instance), and what would the path be for it? (times, target numbers and the like?)
-kv
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Overload damage works when an icon takes damage. The icon's owner (the decker in question) must roll a willpower test against a target number based on the icon damage or take a light stun wound. The target number is 2 for Light, 3 for Moderate and 5 for serious. Icon damage adds no penalty to the decker's target numbers while mental and physical wounds do.
Programming is WAY too complicated for me to print word-for-word here. You're better off getting a copy of Matrix. I used EMule to find it.
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Yes, you can do upgrades, and I agree with Retread that's it's too much to post here.
Basically, it's pages 76-94 of Matrix.
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Have fun reading THAT. I have a little worksheet that Vader drew up for me on programming. If I can find it, I'll send it along to you.
Gabriel
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I would appreciate that.
Can anyone sum it up? Give me the basics?
-kv
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Seriously? That is a REALLY in depth topic. You really do just need to print the book out, chummer.
Gabriel
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Hmmm... I'll check that on my own.
I have a question about program ratings, though. For system tests, do you use the rating of the program in dice for the action? Is it different for attack programs?
-kv
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Very short sum up:
1) Decide which rating your final program is to have. No higher than your computer skill (programming spec.), persona programs can go up to 1.5xskill.
2) Figure out size. (in Mp). This is your basic programming time, in days.
3) Write a programming plan, this requires a relevant knowledge skill, sch as Combat Utility Design, Operational Utility Design or White ICE design.
4) Tools exists, they will not be covered in this brief.
5) Find the modified T#. Basic T# is equal to desire rating of program. Each success on the planning stage is worth a -1. If no plan was prepared, T# +2. If the computer (usually a laptop or equivalent) has twice the necessary memory, that's a -2 T#. You can write on a Mainframe too, this gives further T# reduction, but usually costs money.
Roll Computer (programming spec, remember task pool dice) against resulting T#, divide base time by the number of successes. Writing the program takes this many days.
We have ignore all optional rules as well as stuff like working in teams, bugs, glitches, languages and all sorts of options.
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Program ratings have different effects. OPERATIONAL UTILITIES like Analyze etc. reduce the target number for system tests. So if you're editing a file the Read/Write utility reduces the target number for Edit File tests, etc. So if I'm editting portfolios that are in an accounting host I need to roll my Decking test + Hacking Pool against the FILES rating of the Host in question. My target number is reduced by the highest rated Read/Write utility in ACTIVE memory on my deck. Likewise, the system makes a test against my Detection Factor ((Masking + Active Sleaze)/2) using its Security rating, this is the number next to the host color, ie. Red 11, Blue 4, Orange 8, etc. If the system scores more successes, my action fails. If I score more successes, the file action succeeds and reduces the time needed to edit the file.
Direct Combat utilities (Attack, Killjoy, and Black Hammer) are treated like Real-life weapons, with two ratings the Attack Power (This is the utility's actual rating) and the Damage Level. Higher damage level programs have a greater size multiplier. So a rating 10 Light Attack program will be much smaller than a rating 7 Deadly Attack Program. The attack power is treated just like a bullet, knife etc. The program's rating is used for the target number to resist the damage. The target when hit, uses it's Bod (or Security rating) to resist the damage, rolling those dice + pool dice against a target number equal to the Attack utility rating or IC rating minus the rating of any active Armor utility.
Other programs have their rating used based on their description. So, if you want to know more about them, you'll just have to read how they work, chummer.
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So I would pretty much always use my Computer skill (or decking specalization)
-kv
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Yes, it's skill that drives your ability to do anything. As the core book says, a sufficiently godly decker can do anything in the Matrix. For those of less divine skills they must rely on utilities to get the job done. You don't even need an attack utility if you can improvise one. Nearly any action can be achieved without utilities. There are some exceptions like operating a Wireless link without the appropriate utility but the GM might allow the decker to work around that, anyway.
Computer (Decking) is like the Decker's Combat skill, Electronics B/R, Stealth, and all other active skills all rolled into one for the purposes of the Matrix.
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As long as you're decking, your computer skill (decking spec) is the be all-end all.
Programming spec is just for preparing, and so isstuff like Computer B/R, electronics Electronics B/R and all that. Oh, and maybe negotion skillto sell the loot at a decent price.
As everyone who's been on the early 21th century internet knows, Ettiquette (Matrix) is advisable, but strictly optional!
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No doubt about the whole optional Netiquette. Of course, system familiarity skills are a great boon too. Additionally, I'd recommend that a decker seriously consider investing in a knowsoft link. Program planning skills are karma intensive so any relief is always helpful.